What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Tromethamine
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Metaphosphate, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Propylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tripropylene Glycol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Inositol
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingParfum
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Paeonia Officinalis Flower Extract
TonicWater, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Tripropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Inositol, Zinc PCA, Propanediol, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gluconolactone, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Tromethamine, Parfum, Mentha Piperita Oil, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Tocopherol, Paeonia Officinalis Flower Extract
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GluconolactoneWe don't have a description for PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24 yet.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
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
