What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Allantoin, Carbomer, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Maltodextrin, Pyridoxine Hcl, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSphingolipids
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Pullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSymphytum Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sphingolipids, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Polyglutamic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Gluconolactone, Beta-Glucan, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Tromethamine, Sodium Citrate, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Phytate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Centella Asiatica Extract
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
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCitric 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 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 PanthenolSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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.
Water. 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
