What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCanola Oil
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCI 75130
Cosmetic ColorantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Canola Oil, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, CI 75130, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientBetaine
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingMethoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
EmollientParfum
MaskingHydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingLinalool
PerfumingPanax Ginseng Seed Oil
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingPanax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingHoney
HumectantRehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Flower Extract
AntioxidantPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAlcohol
AntimicrobialGlucose
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAcetyl Heptapeptide-4
HumectantSodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Behenyl Alcohol, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Phenyl Trimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Jojoba Esters, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenoxyethanol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Arachidyl Glucoside, Linalool, Panax Ginseng Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Chloride, Panax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract, Limonene, Honey, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Flower Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Polygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract, Retinol, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Alcohol, Glucose, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, BHT, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Polyaspartate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl Octapeptide-3
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDextrin is used to thicken a product and helps bind ingredients together. It is created from starch and glycogen.
As an emulsifier, dextrin prevents ingredients from separating. This helps elongate a product's shelf life.
Studies show coating UV filters with dextrin prevents these ingredients from being absorbed. This helps UV ingredients last longer on the skin.
Learn more about DextrinDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
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 LimoneneLinalool 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.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. 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.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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