What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Sucrose Polystearate
EmollientC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningColloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Behenyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Trehalose, Sucrose Polystearate, C12-16 Alcohols, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ceramide NP, Allantoin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Carbomer, Beta-Glucan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Caprylyl Glycol, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cetyl Palmitate, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Colloidal Oatmeal, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Palmitate, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDimethicone 1%
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Manganese Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Disodium EDTA
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Acetylated Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone 1%, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Trihydroxystearin, Zinc Gluconate, Madecassoside, Manganese Gluconate, Silica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Sulfate, Disodium EDTA, Copper Gluconate, Citric Acid, Acetylated Glycol Stearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Titanium Dioxide
Reviews
Alternatives
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.
In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolyisobuteneTocopherol 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
