What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningGlycoproteins
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentPropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLecithin
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingAlcohol
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Glycoproteins, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Propylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment, Bisabolol, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Citronellol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSucrose Polycottonseedate
EmollientIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Stearyl Alcohol
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingMethylparaben
PreservativeDimethiconol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
PEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantStearic Acid
CleansingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingPropylparaben
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sucrose Polycottonseedate, Isopropyl Isostearate, Isohexadecane, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyacrylamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Stearyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Laureth-7, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Sodium Hydroxide
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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
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