What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantLecithin
EmollientPhoenix Dactylifera Seed
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycerin, Triethylhexanoin, Methyl Trimethicone, Diglycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Behenate, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Water, Ascorbic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Glyceryl Glucoside, Lecithin, Phoenix Dactylifera Seed, Phospholipids, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventIsocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantJojoba Esters
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventEthyl Lactyl Retinoate
AbrasiveAcetyl Hexapeptide-37
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantLeontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantCrataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Sambac Flower Extract
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSucrose Stearate
EmollientC9-12 Alkane
SolventGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantPolyurethane-10
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Propanediol, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Glycerin, Jojoba Esters, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triheptanoin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Astaxanthin, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Tocopherol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sucrose Stearate, C9-12 Alkane, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Polyurethane-10, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Glucoside is made from glycerol and glucose.
It is a humectant. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture to it from the air.
Some foods that contain glyceryl glucoside include sake, miso, and wines.
Learn more about Glyceryl GlucosideTocopherol 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