What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Honey Extract
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Arginine, Isopentyldiol, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propolis Extract, Honey Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Gold, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polyisoprene
Ceteareth-6 Olivate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Olive Oil
Skin Conditioning
Asparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyisoprene, Ceteareth-6 Olivate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Sorbitol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Water. 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
