What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventSqualane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Lauryl Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-5 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Magnesium Sulfate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Quaternium-90 Bentonite
Polyglyceryl-20 Octadecabehenate/Laurate
EmollientAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Prolinamidoethyl Imidazole
Skin ProtectingArginine
Masking
Acmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingCoffea Arabica Seed Oil
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract
Antioxidant
Tulipa Gesneriana Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Fructose
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Dextran
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Octastearate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantWater, C13-15 Alkane, Squalane, Propanediol, Lauryl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-5 Polyricinoleate, Glycerin, Magnesium Sulfate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Polyglyceryl-20 Octadecabehenate/Laurate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Prolinamidoethyl Imidazole, Arginine, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Tulipa Gesneriana Flower Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Gluconolactone, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Sodium PCA, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Fructose, Maltodextrin, Dextran, Glyceryl Behenate, Polyglyceryl-6 Octastearate, Tocopherol, Stearic Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Triethyl Citrate, Citric Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Zinc Stearate
Water
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Eriodictyon Californicum Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventGlycereth-26
Humectant
Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Acetyl Cysteine
Antioxidant
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Ethyl Oleate
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Dextran
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingOleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Water, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Glycerin, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Ectoin, Trehalose, Betaine, Caffeine, Lactobacillus/Eriodictyon Californicum Ferment Extract, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycereth-26, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Water, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Adenosine, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Superoxide Dismutase, Acetyl Cysteine, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Phospholipids, Glycolipids, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Dipeptide-2, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Ethyl Oleate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Jojoba Esters, Xylitol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Dextran, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDextran is a sugar (polysaccharide) with skin hydrating properties.
Fun fact: Louis Pasteur first discovered this ingredient as a microbial product in wine.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol 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
