This anti-aging serum is formulated around Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract and Ascorbic Acid to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin.
This acne serum is formulated around Houttuynia Cordata Extract and 4-Terpineol to clear breakouts and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
Humectant4-Terpineol
Masking
Polylysine
Castanea Sativa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Salicyloyl Decapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-86
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Oleate
CleansingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Polysorbate 20, Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, 4-Terpineol, Polylysine, Castanea Sativa Leaf Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycine Soja Oil, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Salicyloyl Decapeptide-10, Oligopeptide-86, Sodium Oleate, Cyanocobalamin
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
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
