What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Vegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningCocoglycerides
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Arctium Majus Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Vegetable Oil, PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether, Cocoglycerides, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethiconol, Polysorbate 60, Tocopheryl Acetate, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Zinc PCA, Parfum, Salicylic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Biotin
Water
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Tazarotene
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyquaternium-10
Lysine Azelate
BleachingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
PEG-90m
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Salicylic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Tazarotene, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyquaternium-10, Lysine Azelate, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, PEG-90m, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 42090
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, itβs still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
