What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycereth-26
HumectantBetaine
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrehalose
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantSea Salt
AbrasiveCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycereth-26, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Carbomer, Trehalose, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Sea Water, Panthenol, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Maltodextrin, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Sea Salt, Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingVinyldimethicone
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingVincetoxicum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Olivate
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingGlucose
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Hydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSqualane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-80
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vinyldimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Pentylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Vincetoxicum Atratum Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sorbitan Olivate, Dimethiconol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tromethamine, Glucose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Panthenol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phytosterols, Ceramide NP, Lecithin, Squalane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-80, Sodium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolChlorella Vulgaris Extract comes from a green microalga. It is hydrating and contains antioxidants.
Studies also show Chlorella Vulgaris may help in rebuilding collagen and elastin. This ingredient is made up of lipids, carbohydrates, and chlorophyll.
Fun fact: This ingredient is commonly used as food additive in Japan.
Learn more about Chlorella Vulgaris ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolWater. 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