What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Laureth-4 Phosphate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
Tromethamine
BufferingMalachite Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Water, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Laureth-4 Phosphate, Glycerin, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Tromethamine, Malachite Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Fructooligosaccharides, Arginine, Glycine, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Gluconolactone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Sodium Chloride, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Collagen Water
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Zea Mays Kernel Extract
Fructan
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Reviews
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.
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 preservatives
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 GlycolCoptis Japonica Root Extract, also known as Japanese Goldthread, is a traditional East Asian herb. It is prized for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.
That’s not all - research in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science found that its active compound, berberine, may help reduce fat accumulation and slow down fat cell development.
This makes it a promising ingredient for slimming and anti-cellulite products!
Learn more about Coptis Japonica Root ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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
