What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Tromethamine
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Yeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Pentylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Vinyldimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tromethamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Sodium Phytate, Allantoin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Yeast Ferment Extract, Tocopherol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Madecassoside, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantUrea
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Glucose
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Urea, Lactic Acid, Arginine, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Fructooligosaccharides, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitylglucoside, Xylitol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Sodium Citrate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ceramide NP, Carnosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Disodium EDTA, Glucose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
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 GlycolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinFructooligosaccharides (FOS) are a type of prebiotic sugar with humectant and skin conditioning properties. As a humectant, they help attract and hold moisture in the skin.
FOS essentially acts as a food source for the "good" bacteria on your skin and make it harder for "bad" bacteria to thrive. A 2022 study using a reconstructured human skin model found that just 1% of FOS was enough to shift the bacteria balance in favor of beneficial species. This suggests it could help support a healthier skin microbiome over time.
This ingredient has a low sensitization risk and testing shows it does not classify as a skin irritant or sensitizer.
FOS are usually produced from sugar beets and can also be found in foods like bananas, garlic, and onions.
Learn more about FructooligosaccharidesGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
