What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Dextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingPropanediol
Solvent
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Protease
Exfoliating
Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Dipropylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Phytate, Dextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Gluconolactone, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Propanediol, Cyclodextrin, Beta-Glucan, Protease, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Tocopherol, Glutathione, Ferulic Acid, Madecassoside
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycolic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Glycerin, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Arginine, Tocopherol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolTocopherol 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
