What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningVinyldimethicone
Alpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantTranexamic Acid
AstringentGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Vinyldimethicone, Alpha-Arbutin, Tranexamic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Tocopherol, Parfum, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool
Sodium Chloride
MaskingBentonite
AbsorbentWater
Skin ConditioningTartaric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Sulfite
PreservativeSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSaxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentKaolin
AbrasiveAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Milk Protein
Skin ConditioningCarbon
Methyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
StabilisingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentSodium Chloride, Bentonite, Water, Tartaric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Metabisulfite, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Kaolin, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Carbon, Methyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Zea Mays Starch
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 GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinWater. 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