What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPvp
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPolyacrylate-13
Glycine Soja Oil
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyisobutene
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthylene/Propylene Copolymer
AbrasiveDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentKojyl Methylenedioxycinnamate
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingLactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLecithin
EmollientPullulan
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingAcetyl Heptapeptide-4
HumectantZein
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningPectin
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantWater, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Squalane, Methyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pvp, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Synthetic Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polyacrylate-13, Glycine Soja Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Polyisobutene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Kojyl Methylenedioxycinnamate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Adenosine, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Metaphosphate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Pullulan, Beta-Carotene, Tromethamine, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Zein, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Pectin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantOleic Acid
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingEthyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingSodium Phytate
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Lactic Acid
BufferingTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Oleic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Menthyl Lactate, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Sodium Phytate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol
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.
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 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateStearic 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 TocopherolTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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