What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingErythritol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Saccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Erythritol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningErythritol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingSodium Phytate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Seed Extract
HumectantRetinol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingWater, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Allantoin, Erythritol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Adenosine, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Squalane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Sodium Phytate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyglutamic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Retinol, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Salicylic Acid
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolYou might know this ingredient as a sugar substitute in foods. It is a sugar alcohol with humectant properties.
Humectants attract water to your skin (like glycerin or hyaluronic acid).
Fun fact: Erythritol can be naturally found in some fermented foods.
Learn more about ErythritolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycereth-26 is a synthetic ingredient and polyethylene glycol ether of Glycerin. Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin and helps keep your skin moisturized.
It is a humectant and helps add texture to products. It can make your product thicker.
As a humectant, it helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps your skin stay hydrated.
Learn more about Glycereth-26Glycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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