What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan
Polygonum Aviculare Extract
EmollientRosmarinyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Caffeyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Gallyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-15
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tamarindus Indica Seed Extract
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Silybum Marianum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide
AbsorbentCholesterol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Panthenol, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan, Polygonum Aviculare Extract, Rosmarinyl Glucoside, Caffeyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-15, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tamarindus Indica Seed Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide EOP, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Silybum Marianum Seed Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sodium Anisate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citric Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Benzoate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Levulinate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
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 synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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 Water
