What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantIsobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol
BleachingGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucosylrutin
AntioxidantIsoquercitrin
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Dimethicone
EmollientDehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGellan Gum
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Distarch Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Isobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Glucosylrutin, Isoquercitrin, Glycine Soja Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Dimethicone, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Gellan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientSd Alcohol 40-B
AstringentAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantKojic Acid
AntioxidantGlutathione
Azelaic Acid
BufferingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingResveratrol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Squalane, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Alpha-Arbutin, Propylene Glycol, Kojic Acid, Glutathione, Azelaic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Niacinamide, Resveratrol, Butylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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