DHC Coq10 Lotion Versus DHC Coenzyme Q10 Milk
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeUbiquinone
AntioxidantAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantLysolecithin
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCarboxymethyl Chitosan Succinamide
HumectantSoluble Collagen
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPlacental Protein
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ubiquinone, Acetyl Glucosamine, Serine, Sodium Citrate, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lysolecithin, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carboxymethyl Chitosan Succinamide, Soluble Collagen, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Placental Protein, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAcacia Mearnsii Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeUbiquinone
AntioxidantPEG-5 Soy Sterol
EmulsifyingTocotrienols
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingElaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil
EmollientPalmitoyl Olive Leaf Extract
AntioxidantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSodium Riboflavin Phosphate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acacia Mearnsii Bark Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Ubiquinone, PEG-5 Soy Sterol, Tocotrienols, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hydroxide, Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil, Palmitoyl Olive Leaf Extract, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Riboflavin Phosphate
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateUbiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) is a molecule already found in our bodies. It is a potent antioxidant and skin-soothing ingredient.
Aging and environmental exposure diminishes our skin's natural ubiquinone levels. This is much like our natural collagen and elastin.
The good news is: studies show applying this ingredient topically replenishes ubiquinone levels in our skin. This also comes with a ton of skin benefits. These benefits include:
Ubiquinone is considered a large molecule and cannot be absorbed into the lower layers of skin. This is why it is believed to be such an effective antioxidant: it protects our skin in the upper layers and prevents damage in the deeper layers.
When used in sunscreen, ubiquinone is shown to increase ingredient stability, increase SPF factor, and add to infrared protection.
Fun fact: ubiquinone is fat-soluble.
Learn more about UbiquinoneWater. 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