What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientDiglycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
Myristyl Myristate
EmollientNelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Leaf Extract
EmollientCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientCocoglycerides
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantTetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Diglycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG-100 Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Behenyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Cocoglycerides, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Metabisulfite, BHT, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Palmitate
EmollientCetyl Ricinoleate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingArginine
MaskingSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialTrehalose
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingCreatine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientLecithin
EmollientAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPetrolatum
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine Ferulate
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Tromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Rna
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium Nadh
EmollientMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate
AntioxidantNordihydroguaiaretic Acid
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantSorbic Acid
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Isostearyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Arginine, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Yeast Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Trehalose, Salicylic Acid, Creatine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Lecithin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Petrolatum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Arginine Ferulate, Polysilicone-11, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Rna, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Phospholipids, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium Nadh, Micrococcus Lysate, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine Phosphate, Carbomer, Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sorbic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycolThis extract comes from cucumber. Cucumbers are mostly made up of water (95%), and the other 5% is composed of: vitamin C, caffeic acid, fatty acids, amino acids, and other minerals.
Cucumbers have anti-inflammatory, barrier repair, and hydrating properties.
They contain shikimate dehydrigenase, an enzyme shown to help reduce inflammation and soothe the skin.
The amino acids found in cucumbers help nourish our skin's natural acid mantle (it's an important part of our skin barrier). This slightly acidic film acts as a barrier to protect us from bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants.
Unless you have an allergy to cucumbers, this is generally a non-irritating ingredient.
Fun fact: Cucumis Sativus is native to South Asia and can now be found on every continent.
Learn more about Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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 StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium 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 SorbateSodium metabisulfite is also known as Sodium Pyrosulfite. It is a preservative, antioxidant, and disinfectant.
As a preservative, it helps stabilize cosmetic formulas without affecting their color or scent.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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