What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLecithin
EmollientCollagen Amino Acids
MoisturisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingAcetyl Cedrene
Coumarin
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Lecithin, Collagen Amino Acids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Linalyl Acetate, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Citronellol, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Geranyl Acetate, Acetyl Cedrene, Coumarin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCordyceps Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantTrametes Versicolor Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantAlisma Plantago Aquatica Extract
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientLecithin
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientProline
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningSodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Alisma Plantago Aquatica Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Proline, Alanine, Serine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool
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 GlycolCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.
This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.
As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.
This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Some other names for this ingredient include soy lecithin and deoiled soy lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water