What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Oryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningBroussonetia Papyrifera Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Flower Extract
Perfuming
Rhus Semialata Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningPhragmites Karka Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Zinc Oxide, Glycine Soja Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Madecassoside, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Broussonetia Papyrifera Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Flower Extract, Rhus Semialata Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Phragmites Karka Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Propylene Glycol, Laureth-7, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingBetaine
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Glycolate
BufferingDMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Pyridoxine
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Menadione
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Glycolate, DMDM Hydantoin, Allantoin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pyridoxine, Thiamine Hcl, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ascorbic Acid, Bioflavonoids, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Folic Acid, Glutathione, Menadione, Riboflavin, Tocopheryl Acetate
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 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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
