What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPEG-20 Glyceryl Laurate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantLinoleic Acid
CleansingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCalcium Sodium Borosilicate
Tin Oxide
AbrasiveParfum
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Propylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 20, PEG-20 Glyceryl Laurate, Tocopherol, Linoleic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Caffeine, Arginine, Mica, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Tin Oxide, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, CI 77891, CI 77491
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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 GlycolWater. 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