What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Amp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Vp/Va Copolymer
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Phenylpropanol
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Parfum
Masking
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Vp/Va Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bisabolol, Phenylpropanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Parfum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Linalool
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 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-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolWater. 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
