What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Amodimethicone
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Glycerin
Humectant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingMirabilis Jalapa Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylamide
Propanediol
Solvent
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Amodimethicone, Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Laureth-7, Mirabilis Jalapa Extract, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Propanediol, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Olivate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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
