What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
C13-15 Alkane
SolventBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Lecithin
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
PEG-35 Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, C13-15 Alkane, Beta-Glucan, Saccharide Isomerate, Ferulic Acid, Panthenol, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium PCA, PCA, Glutamic Acid, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Proline, Gluconolactone, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Betaine, Sodium Lactate, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, PEG-35 Castor Oil, Trideceth-9, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Propylene Glycol, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningPoloxamer 184
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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.
Sodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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
