What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Olivate
CleansingOxygen
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialBisabolol
MaskingOligopeptide-68
BleachingTocopherol
AntioxidantAngelica Acutiloba Extract
HumectantOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Seed Oil
EmollientPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingInulin
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Iminodisuccinate
Mannitol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Oleate
CleansingPullulan
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSilica
AbrasiveCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingWater, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Olivate, Oxygen, Ferulic Acid, Bisabolol, Oligopeptide-68, Tocopherol, Angelica Acutiloba Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Maltodextrin, Benzyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Inulin, Dipropylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate, Mannitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phosphatidylcholine, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Oleate, Pullulan, Sodium Hydroxide, Silica, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
HumectantSafflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningArabidopsis Thaliana Extract
AntioxidantLeontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningMarrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ProtectingGalactoarabinan
Schizophyllan
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPullulan
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasivePolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethyl Methacrylate
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentTin Oxide
AbrasiveSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Mica, Glycerin, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Marrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture, Galactoarabinan, Schizophyllan, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Pullulan, Hexylene Glycol, Silica, Polyglutamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beta-Glucan, Micrococcus Lysate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Maltodextrin, Tin Oxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Limonene, CI 77891, CI 77491
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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.
This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.
As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.
This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Some other names for this ingredient include soy lecithin and deoiled soy lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPullulan is a low viscosity polysaccharide (a long chain carbohydrate) with binding and film forming properties when dissolved in water. It is used to create a "silicone-like" or silky feel in cosmetics without adding viscosity.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient's ability to easily dissolves makes it a great carrier for active ingredients.
Due to it being edible and tasteless, you'll likely find this ingredient in breath freshener strips. This ingredient is produced from the starch of the fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans.
Pullulan is stable over a broad-range of pH.
Learn more about PullulanSclerotium Gum is a polysaccharide gum made by the fungus, Sclerotium rolfssii. It is similar to xanthan gum.
In cosmetics, Sclerotium Gum is used to thicken the texture and to help stabilize other ingredients.
As an emulsifier, Sclerotium Gum helps prevent ingredients from separating, such as water and oil.
Learn more about Sclerotium GumSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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. 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