What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Methylheptyl Isostearate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Zinc Glycinate
BufferingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Formate
Buffering
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Water, Dimethicone, Methylheptyl Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Hexylresorcinol, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Phytosterols, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polysilicone-11, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Zinc Glycinate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Isostearic Acid, Benzyl Benzoate, Decyl Glucoside, Benzyl Salicylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Formate, Dimethiconol, Limonene, Farnesol
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCurcuma Wenyujin/Curcuma Kwangsiensis Rhizome Extract
AntiseborrhoeicSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientLysine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Mannose
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Laurate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Mannose Phosphate
HumectantLaureth-12
EmulsifyingCI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Copper Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Polysilicone-11, Squalane, Propanediol, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Curcuma Wenyujin/Curcuma Kwangsiensis Rhizome Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Lysine, Proline, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Lactic Acid, Mannose, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Mannose Phosphate, Laureth-12, CI 77120, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Carbonate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Sorbate
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholPolysilicone-11 is a film-forming silicone that creates a non-tacky and matte finish on the skin. It's commonly used to improve texture, absorb excess oil, and help active ingredients spread evenly.
Due to its "rubber-like" structure, it stays on the skin's surface instead of being absorbed. On the skin, it creates a flexible layer that enhances wearability and stability.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphateTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted effects and reactions from a product. These metal ions may come from water and are found in miniscule amounts.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate can also help other preservatives be more effective.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
