What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingSqualane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PPG-17-Buteth-17
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate
EmollientAphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide
AbsorbentAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Pentylene Glycol, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Triethylhexanoin, Squalane, Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PPG-17-Buteth-17, Triethyl Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate, Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide, Alcohol Denat., Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Potassium Sorbate, Sphingolipids, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
Astringent
PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract
AntiseborrhoeicRubus Suavissimus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Tranexamic Acid, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Sorbitol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Polyquaternium-51, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Phosphate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, Rubus Suavissimus Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Benzoic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzoic Acid is an organic acid that shows up in cosmetics as a preservative. It helps keep a product from spoiling by holding back the growth of yeast, mold, and some bacteria.
This ingredient also functions as a fragrance ingredient that helps mask the unpleasant scent of other ingredients.
The way it works is worth understanding; benzoic acid works when the formula is acidic. It is able to sneak into a microbe's cell and mess up how it functions to stop it from growing in an acidic product.
However, the acid switches to an inactive form and stops working if a product isn't acidic enough (above ~5 pH). This is why you'll often see it in low pH products or teamed up with other preservatives to cover the gap.
Safety wise, it's one of the better studied preservatives out there.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%.
A large international review found this ingredient had no effects on the human body and had low irritation potential.
Just so you know, real world use is usually much lower than the 5% ceiling (usually 1% of less).
The EU caps it at 2.5% in rinse-off products, 1.7% in oral care, and 0.5% in leave-on products.
One thing worth mentioning (it's nothing to worry about): some people get a little stinging or flushing where they apply it. This isn't a true allergy; it's a temporary and harmless reaction. This is the same kind of mild tingle you might notice from sorbic acid.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidButylene 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 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 AcidDisodium 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 CitrateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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
