What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantUrea
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStyrene/Vp Copolymer
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingSerine
MaskingCitrus Sinensis Peel Extract
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Algin
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPullulan
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingElettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingPolianthes Tuberosa Extract
MaskingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingCollagen
MoisturisingSorbic Acid
PreservativePalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCeteareth-20
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningSyringa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Trehalose, Urea, Ethylhexylglycerin, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Serine, Citrus Sinensis Peel Extract, Citric Acid, Carnosine, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pullulan, Disodium Phosphate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Polianthes Tuberosa Extract, Potassium Phosphate, Collagen, Sorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ceteareth-20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Ceramide NP, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Maltodextrin, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Syringa Vulgaris Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberBHT
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyvinyl Alcohol
Potassium Carbonate
BufferingPotassium Chloride
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingTrideceth-9
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, PEG-8, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Benzophenone-4, BHT, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Potassium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Hydroxide, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Lactate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Trideceth-9
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 GlycolCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene 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.
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