What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Stearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientPhyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCyclodextrin
AbsorbentHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPulsatilla Koreana Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningUsnea Barbata Extract
Cetyl Palmitate
EmollientSodium Phytate
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Extract, Heptyl Undecylenate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract, Aspergillus Ferment, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cyclodextrin, Hyaluronic Acid, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Usnea Barbata Extract, Cetyl Palmitate, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Palmitate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlucose
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSorbitol
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Benzoate
PreservativePolyquaternium-67
Papain
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientArachidic Acid
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingPropanediol
SolventCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVinegar
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Oleic Acid
EmollientCI 77004
Cosmetic ColorantMineral Salts
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Butylene Glycol, Glucose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chloride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sorbitol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-67, Papain, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Arachidic Acid, Lauric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Propanediol, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Vinegar, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Oleic Acid, CI 77004, Mineral Salts, Citric Acid, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 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