What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-Crosspolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Isohexadecane
EmollientTrehalose
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Laurus Nobilis Leaf Extract
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Isohexadecane, Trehalose, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Oleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglutamic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Laurus Nobilis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Corn Gluten Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Yeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pelargonium Graveolens Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Tranexamic Acid, Corn Gluten Amino Acids, Glyceryl Glucoside, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panthenol, Hexylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Yeast Ferment Extract, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pelargonium Graveolens Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
