What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Morus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Saccharomyces/Panax Ginseng Flower Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Lycopodium Clavatum Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingGlutathione
Water, Glycerin, Tranexamic Acid, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bisabolol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Saccharomyces/Panax Ginseng Flower Ferment Extract, Hexylresorcinol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Lycopodium Clavatum Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Glutathione
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMannitol
Humectant
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Bentonite
Absorbent
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Retinal, Silybum Marianum Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mannitol, Phosphatidylcholine, Propanediol, Bentonite, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.
It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.
This ingredient is also known as Sepimax Zen.
Learn more about Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6Propanediol 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 PropanediolTocopherol 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
