What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Onsen-Sui
Butylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-2 Oleate
EmulsifyingDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Pearl
Skin ConditioningPolyester-5
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningTillandsia Usneoides Extract
Skin ConditioningEthyl Hexanediol
SolventChamomilla Recutita Flower Water
MaskingOnsen-Sui, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Water, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Octyldodeceth-16, Hydrolyzed Pearl, Polyester-5, Saccharomyces Ferment, Tillandsia Usneoides Extract, Ethyl Hexanediol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water
Water
Skin ConditioningBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycereth-26
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Glycereth-26, Panthenol, Ectoin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Disodium EDTA, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDiphenyl Dimethicone is a type of silicone.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
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.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTriethylhexanoin is created from glycerin and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It is a solvent and emollient.
As a solvent, Triethylhexanoin helps dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
It is also an emollient and helps condition the skin.
Learn more about TriethylhexanoinWater. 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