What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Panax Ginseng Root Water
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bupleurum Chinense Root Extract
AstringentAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Parfum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Panax Ginseng Root Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bupleurum Chinense Root Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunella Vulgaris Extract
Antioxidant
Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Borago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicHyacinthus Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Coco-Glucoside, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Citric Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Prunella Vulgaris Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract, Panthenol, Betaine, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
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.
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 preservatives
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLactobacillus Ferment Lysate is a postbiotic with skin soothing properties. Postbiotics are inactive molecules produced by probiotic bacteria that provide skin benefits.
This ingredient comes from the secretion of the bacteria, Lactobacillus.
Studies show this ingredient can help calm redness and may help treat the signs of photoaging; however, the evidence is inconclusive and further studies are needed.
Lactobacillus Ferment is generally considered safe for fungal-acne prone skin. The key thing to understand is that it comes from bacteria, not yeast or fungus.
Yeast-derived ferments (like galactomyces) have been shown to activate a protein that's linked to Malassezia-related skin issues whereas lactobacillus doesn't have that problem.
Its byproducts also don't contain the types of fatty acids (C11-24 chain lengths) that Malassezia feeds on.
Learn more about Lactobacillus Ferment LysateTocopherol 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
