What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Poly(C6-20 Olefin)
Abrasive
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingParfum
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLinalool
Perfuming
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingCamellia Japonica Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
Perfuming
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Vegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Heptapeptide-4
Humectant
Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triethylhexanoin, Butylene Glycol, Triolein, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-20 Olefin), Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Adenosine, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Sodium Metaphosphate, Parfum, Beta-Glucan, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Xanthan Gum, Linalool, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Extract, Geraniol, Ferulic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, CI 15985, CI 17200, Soluble Collagen, Vegetable Oil, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Abrasive
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coconut Alkanes, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Dimethicone, Ectoin, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Lecithin, Ubiquinone, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Dextran, Tripeptide-1
Reviews
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 PropanediolWater. 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
