What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingAvena Sativa Seed Water
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
AbrasiveHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasiveZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentKaolin
AbrasiveSodium Chloride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantHectorite
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCellulose
AbsorbentSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientZea Mays Germ Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate
EmulsifyingPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSqualane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Phytate
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentAvena Sativa Peptide
Skin ConditioningTriticum Aestivum Peptide
Skin ConditioningGlycine Max Polypeptide
Skin ConditioningTripropylene Glycol
AntioxidantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantGlycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Avena Sativa Seed Water, Water, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Zea Mays Starch, Kaolin, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Hectorite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alcohol Denat., Cellulose, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Squalane, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Phytate, Dipropylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Starch, Avena Sativa Peptide, Triticum Aestivum Peptide, Glycine Max Polypeptide, Tripropylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Dna, Beta-Glucan, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Reviews
Alternatives
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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