What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Propanediol
Solvent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Triethylhexanoin, Dipropylene Glycol, Isododecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Propanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Glycerin, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Diglycerin
Humectant
Coconut Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Leucine
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Ammonium Ferric Pentetate
HumectantAlanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Threonine
Valine
MaskingHistidine
Humectant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Diglycerin, Coconut Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Butylene Glycol, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Leucine, Serine, Glycine, Ammonium Ferric Pentetate, Alanine, Arginine, Threonine, Valine, Histidine, Carnosine, Proline, Lysine Hcl, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateTocopherol 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
