What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Glycosaminoglycans
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingMethylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCopper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pisum Sativum Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ceramide EOP, Glucosamine Hcl, Glycosaminoglycans, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Niacinamide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningPerfluorohexane
SolventPerfluoroperhydrophenanthrene
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPerfluorodecalin
Skin ConditioningC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPolymethyl Methacrylate
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningProlinamidoethyl Imidazole
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlutamylamidoethyl Imidazole
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Lactic Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
BufferingPalmitoyl Heptapeptide-18
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientLecithin
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientMenthone Glycerin Acetal
RefreshingP-Anisic Acid
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Phytate
Silanediol Salicylate
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingMethylpropanediol
SolventLinalool
PerfumingWater, Perfluorohexane, Perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Perfluorodecalin, C12-16 Alcohols, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Magnesium Gluconate, Prolinamidoethyl Imidazole, Butylene Glycol, Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Caprylate, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, P-Anisic Acid, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Phytate, Silanediol Salicylate, Tromethamine, Methylpropanediol, Linalool
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum