What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingLactobionic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Lactobionic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantGlycogen
HumectantHexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-11
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Isopentyldiol, Hyaluronic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Lactobacillus Ferment, Zea Mays Starch, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycogen, Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Lactic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Triethyl Citrate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Polyacrylate, Decyl Glucoside, Phenylpropanol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethoxydiglycol (aka Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether) is one of the cosmetic world's quiet problem solvers.
In a formula, it is a solvent that dissolves tricky ingredients that don't want to mix in and helps spread ingredients evenly across your skin without leaving a greasy or sticky feeling
This makes it great for hard-to-dissolve actives like vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and self-tanner DHA.
It also has mild humectant and penetration enhancer abilities so it can help some actives absorb a little deeper.
The penetration boost is backed by lab research: studies using human skin samples found it improved how well an active dissolves into the upper layer of skin rather than tearing down your skin barrier. Reviews of its mechanism also describe it interacting gently with the lipids and water in your outermost layer of skin.
Just know this penetration-enhancing effect is not universal. It helps a lot in some formulas and did very little in others (so the benefit really depends on the specific product).
Safety-wise, the evidence is reassuring. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel reviewed it and concluded it's safe for use in cosmetics and recognized it as non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-comedogenic in skincare.
Typical leave-on skincare usage lands around 1-10%. The EU has sets caps of 2.6% in non-spray products, 10% in rinse-offs, 7% in oxidative hair dye, and 5% in non-oxidative hair dye.
Learn more about EthoxydiglycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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
