What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientAllantoin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSqualane
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Dipropylene Glycol, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Adenosine, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Disodium EDTA, Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Squalane, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate-13
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingIndole Acetic Acid
Skin ConditioningMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantCymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
MaskingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventVegetable Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Water
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPotassium Benzoate
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativePolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyacrylate-13, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Synthetic Beeswax, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Indole Acetic Acid, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Propanediol, Vegetable Amino Acids, Pentylene Glycol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Potassium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Polyglutamic Acid
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil is oil from the peel of an orange fruit.
Limonene and linalool make up the majority of oils from citrus peels. Limonene has a "citrus" fragrance. Citrus peels also contain flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.
Citrus peel is also a rich source of flavonoids. Flavonoids are natural antioxidants and help protect your skin against damage. Flavonoids are a group of compounds naturally found in vegetables and fruits.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel OilDisodium 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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein yet.
Hydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinTocopherol 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