What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Azelaic Acid, Maltodextrin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Butylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bacillus, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Triethylene 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.
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 GlycolTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
