What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Kernel Extract
Disodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Fructan
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOctanediol
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Xylose
HumectantPhloretin
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Lactate
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingGlutathione
Water, Niacinamide, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Tranexamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Cellulose Gum, Adenosine, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Octanediol, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Propylene Glycol, Pyridoxine Hcl, Xylitylglucoside, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Kojic Acid, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Xylose, Phloretin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Lactate, Sodium Surfactin, Glutathione
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate is made by combining ten units of glycerin with oleic acid.
According to a manufacturer, it is a low-irritation and hydrophilic (water loving) skin conditioning agent. It also improves the sensory feel and texture of a product.
The Malassezia yeast survives by eating certain fats, including oleic acid. Since this ingredient is made from oleic acid, it might not be fungal acne safe. However, it should be noted this oleic acid is chemically bound to a large polyglycerol molecule, so it might not trigger fungal acne for everyone.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 OleatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
