What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-32
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentButylene Glycol
HumectantPoloxamer 407
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHaberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingBHT
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-32, Sodium Citrate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ascorbyl Glucoside, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cellulose Gum, Parfum, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Butylene Glycol, Poloxamer 407, Citric Acid, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hyaluronic Acid, Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, BHT
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantKojic Acid
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantHoney Extract
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSpiraea Ulmaria Extract
AstringentPropanediol
SolventVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningBoerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Kojic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Honey Extract, Sodium Lactate, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Propanediol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Reviews
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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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