What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientUrea
Buffering
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Bambusa Vulgaris Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingPhyllostachys Nigra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Diisostearyl Malate, Urea, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Squalane, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitic Acid, Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Phyllostachys Nigra Leaf Extract, Aspergillus Ferment, Mandelic Acid, Myristyl Alcohol, Arachidic Acid, Lauryl Alcohol, Myristic Acid, Oleic Acid, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Citral, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAmorphophallus Konjac Root Extract
HumectantTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Chlorella Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantArginine
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Chloride
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCalcium Chloride
AstringentSodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Chloride
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Propanediol, Isopentyldiol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Chlorella Ferment, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Magnesium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Citric Acid
Reviews
Alternatives
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
Hydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
