What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-20
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment Filtrate Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Water, PEG-8, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Polysorbate 80, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-20, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment Filtrate Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycosphingolipids, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Hydrogenated Lysolecithin, Tocopherol, Arginine
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Zanthoxylum Piperitum Peel Extract
AntimicrobialPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningPinellia Ternata Tuber Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Masking
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Prunus Mume Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Methylparaben
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Trehalose, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Peel Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Pinellia Ternata Tuber Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Prunus Mume Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract, Methylparaben, Tocopherol
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 GlycerinMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenPentylene 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
We don't have a description for PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-20 yet.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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
