What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Vinegar
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Alcohol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Vinegar, Acer Saccharum Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vitex Agnus Castus Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingSqualane
Emollient
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Isopentyldiol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Octyldodeceth-16, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Vitex Agnus Castus Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Squalane, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Polyquaternium-51, Ceramide NP, Gluconolactone, Madecassoside
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
