What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveBehenic Acid
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingLauric Acid
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningGalactoarabinan
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningPantethine
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMenthol
MaskingPEG-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sorbic Acid
PreservativeDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Silica, Behenic Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Palmitic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Galactoarabinan, Panthenol, Pantethine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Menthol, PEG-3 Distearate, Disodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 61570
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingSilica
AbrasiveAcrylates Copolymer
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantSucrose
HumectantCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningSodium Coco Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
CleansingSalicylic Acid
MaskingLaureth-2
CleansingDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Sulfate
Monosodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBHT
AntioxidantEDTA
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Silica, Acrylates Copolymer, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Sucrose, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Coco Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Salicylic Acid, Laureth-2, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Chloride, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Sodium Sulfate, Monosodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, BHT, EDTA, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acetyl Glucosamine is an antioxidant and humectant. It is an amino acid sugar and is naturally found in our skin.
The cool thing about this ingredient? It helps the skin produce hyaluronic acid and boost hydration. It also has antioxidant benefits to protect skin cells.
When paired with niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine has been shown to be effective at reducing discoloration.
Learn more about Acetyl GlucosamineButylene 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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