What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
PEG-75
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-32
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Cola Acuminata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Algin
Pantethine
EmollientCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Rna
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Oleth-3 Phosphate
SurfactantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Oleth-3
Emulsifying
Oleth-5
Emulsifying
Choleth-24
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Surfactant
Ceteth-24
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Bifida Ferment Lysate, PEG-8, Propanediol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycereth-26, PEG-75, Butylene Glycol, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Tripeptide-32, Sodium Hyaluronate, Faex Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cola Acuminata Seed Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Pantethine, Caffeine, Lecithin, Sodium Rna, Bisabolol, Squalane, Glycerin, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Oleth-3, Oleth-5, Choleth-24, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Ceteth-24, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Tetrasodium EDTA, BHT, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Piperidinepropionic Acid
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingMyristyl Myristate
Emollient
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Beheneth-20
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate
EmulsifyingPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Isodonis Japonicus Leaf/Stalk Extract
MaskingPrunus Speciosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingSanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingBatyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Palm Oil
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientElaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil
Emollient
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingBHT
Antioxidant
Trisodium EDTA
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Xylitol, Piperidinepropionic Acid, Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum, Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Myristyl Myristate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Beheneth-20, Stearyl Alcohol, Diisostearyl Malate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Carnosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Isodonis Japonicus Leaf/Stalk Extract, Prunus Speciosa Leaf Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Microcrystalline Wax, Batyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Isohexadecane, Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Sodium Citrate, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, BHT, Trisodium EDTA, Alcohol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid, Sorbitan Oleate, Linalool, Limonene, Sodium Metaphosphate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 77492, CI 77491
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 PhenoxyethanolTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
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. 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
