What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningVinyldimethicone
Butylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantZinc PCA
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Vinyldimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Zinc PCA, Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHeptyl Undecylenate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSwertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingIsopentyldiol
HumectantCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Surfactin
CleansingCaproic Acid
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingSodium Acetate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Heptyl Undecylenate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Panthenol, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Swertia Japonica Extract, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, C14-22 Alcohols, Dipeptide-2, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Isopentyldiol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Surfactin, Caproic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Sodium Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDisodium 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 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 PanthenolPropanediol 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 PropanediolTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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