What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantBehenic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingMontmorillonite
AbsorbentLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPorphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentZinc PCA
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientSodium Phytate
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeGlycol Distearate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingPolyquaternium-7
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Behenic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Montmorillonite, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Zinc PCA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Glycol Distearate, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-7, Phenoxyethanol
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPotassium Myristoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlycol Stearate
EmollientPEG-40 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Coceth Sulfate
CleansingParfum
MaskingPassiflora Incarnata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningLythrum Salicaria Extract
AstringentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantSucrose
HumectantUrea
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Potassium Myristoyl Glutamate, Glycol Stearate, PEG-40 Glyceryl Cocoate, Citric Acid, Sodium PCA, Sodium Coceth Sulfate, Parfum, Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Lythrum Salicaria Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Trehalose, Sucrose, Urea, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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