What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Olivate
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Phytate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Glycerin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Polysilicone-15, Dicaprylyl Ether, Butylene Glycol, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Caprylyl Methicone, Phenethyl Benzoate, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Ceramide NP, Glucose, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Olivate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, C20-22 Alcohols, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Decyl Glucoside
Reviews
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosidePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
