What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasivePanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingTriethanolamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingSodium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantOryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlucose
HumectantGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Allantoin, Ethoxydiglycol, Ferulic Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Sodium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Glucose, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beeswax, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Water
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingErythritol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Madecassoside
AntioxidantCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantArbutin
AntioxidantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningMatrixyl 3000
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Erythritol, Pentylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Adenosine, Glutathione, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Madecassoside, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ascorbic Acid, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Arbutin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Matrixyl 3000
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
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidButylene 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 PanthenolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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