What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
PEG-20 Glyceryl Isostearate
Surfactant
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Onsen-Sui
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Isostearate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Onsen-Sui, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycol Distearate, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMoroccan Lava Clay
Abrasive
Bentonite
Absorbent
Protease
Exfoliating
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientPEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
PEG-20 Glyceryl Isostearate
Surfactant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Moroccan Lava Clay, Bentonite, Protease, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Soluble Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Isostearate, Potassium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateDipropylene 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 GlycolPEG-20 Glyceryl Isostearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate comes from Isostearic Acid and glycerin.
It is an emollient, emulsifier, and gentle cleanser. As an emollient, it helps trap moisture to keep skin soft and hydrated. Emulsifiers help prevent ingredients from separating.
This ingredient is common in oil-based products. This is because it helps oil-ingredients be easily washed away without leaving a residue.
Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-20 Glyceryl TriisostearatePEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate is a synthetic, water-soluble surfactant and emulsifier.
It's a "superfatting" agent that helps replenish some of your skin's oils after they're stripped away by other surfactants.
This is why "gentle" and "moisturizing" cleansers feel less stripping than basic ones.
Typical concentrations range from 1-10% and it has a solid safety record. The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe at concentrations up to 10% in leave-on products.
Dermal application tests at 50% also did not produce irritation in two studies.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe and in vitro studies have shown Malassezia can metabolize it.
Learn more about PEG-7 Glyceryl CocoatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideTocopherol 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
