What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingPropanediol
Solvent
PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethylhexanoin, Propanediol, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopherol, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Retinyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Zea Mays Oil, Thioctic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-32
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Malva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Poloxamer 407
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingBHT
Antioxidant
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-32, Sodium Citrate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ascorbyl Glucoside, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cellulose Gum, Parfum, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Butylene Glycol, Poloxamer 407, Citric Acid, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hyaluronic Acid, Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, BHT
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPeg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil comes from hydrogenated castor oil. It is a solubilizer and emulsifier.
As a solubilizer, it helps dissolve ingredients into a water-based version. It is also an emulsifer. Emulsifier help prevent oils and water from separating. Both these properties help create evenly-spread and uniform products.
Basically, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil helps hold ingredients together.
Learn more about PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor OilPentylene 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol 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
