What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOctanediol
Tocopherol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Water, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Betaine, Allantoin, Gluconolactone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Octanediol, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingAlcohol
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Panthenol, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Alcohol, Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA
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 GlycolCapryloyl Salicylic Acid comes from salicylic acid, the famous acne-fighting BHA.
It usually goes by a more common name of LHA, or lipohydroxy acid.
Like salicylic acid, this ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that can help break down the oil in your pores and reduce inflammation.
Though studies for LHA do show it to be less effective than salicylic acid. To be fair, salicylic acid is the reigning monarch of acne treatments.
However, a study from 2009 found LHA to be comparable to BPO, making it a good alternative for people with sensitive skin. Another study of 14 patients found a significant decrease in comedones after using LHA.
Another pro of LHA? It is less irritating than salicylic acid due to its large molecule size.
Large molecules cannot penetrate skin as well, so they are gentler on the skin. LHA is much less penetrative than salicylic acid.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found only 6% of LHA penetrated past the statum corneum compared to 58% of salicylic acid. An in-vivo (done on a living organism) analysis revealed ~17% of LHA was still present in the top layer of skin after 4 days, versus ~9% of salicylic acid.
Interestingly, a study from 2008 found LHA comparable to another famous acid, glycolic acid.
This study found about 10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and fine-lines.
Hydroxy acids have been found to stimulate skin protein, lipids, and thermal thickening. This may have anti-aging benefits.
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic AcidCarica Papaya Fruit Extract comes from the papaya fruit. Papayas were first domesticated in Mexico and Central America.
This fruit extract contains papain and chymopapain, two types of enzymes. These enzyme have exfoliating and anti-inflammatory properties. One study shows papain may help reduce scarring.
Papaya is also a rich source of antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your skin against damage from free-radical molecules. This may help protect against signs of aging. One antioxidant present in papayas is lycopene.
Papaya also contains Vitamin A, also known as retinol.
While papaya is used as an ingredient to help lighten skin, research is limited on this.
The seeds of papaya have been found to have anti-fungal activity.
Learn more about Carica Papaya Fruit ExtractDisodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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