What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tridecyl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Isodecyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Copper PCA
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
CI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butylene Glycol, Tridecyl Stearate, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Isodecyl Salicylate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, P-Anisic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Disodium EDTA, Copper PCA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, CI 40800, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isohexadecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Polyacrylamide
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Nylon-12
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Methylparaben
Preservative
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Propylparaben
Preservative
Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate
Emulsifying
Ethylparaben
Preservative
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Medicago Sativa Extract
TonicPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Polyquaternium-7
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Dipeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningAcanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Methylsilanol Tri-PEG-8 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Polyacrylate
StabilisingMethicone
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Niacinamide, Isohexadecane, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Petrolatum, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Behenyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Panthenol, Nylon-12, Benzyl Alcohol, Dimethiconol, Methylparaben, PEG-100 Stearate, Laureth-7, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Mica, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Ethylparaben, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Decyl Glucoside, Medicago Sativa Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Polyquaternium-7, Tin Oxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Methylsilanol Tri-PEG-8 Glyceryl Cocoate, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Methicone, Tocopherol, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, BHT, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77891, CI 77492
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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTocopheryl 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
