What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Phytic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingBetaine
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventBisabolol
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Squalane, Tranexamic Acid, Methyl Trimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Betaine, Panthenol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Bisabolol, Propanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, C14-22 Alcohols, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololEthylhexylglycerin 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 PanthenolTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
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
