What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Carrageenan
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract
TonicAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Chloride
AstringentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Potassium Chloride
Sucrose
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCalcium Lactate
AstringentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Phytate
Norbornanediamine/Resorcinol Diglycidyl Ether Crosspolymer
Arginine
Masking
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Prunella Vulgaris Extract
Antioxidant
Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Carrageenan, Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Hexylene Glycol, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Calcium Chloride, Cellulose Gum, Chlorphenesin, Chondrus Crispus Powder, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Potassium Chloride, Sucrose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Calcium Lactate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxyacetophenone, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Sodium Phytate, Norbornanediamine/Resorcinol Diglycidyl Ether Crosspolymer, Arginine, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Prunella Vulgaris Extract, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Rapeseed Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Oleate, Lactic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Alcohol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol 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
