What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77004
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCharcoal Powder
Abrasive
Lonicera Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVegetable Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Shoot Extract
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBisabolol
Antioxidant
Mentha Piperita Extract
CleansingMentha Viridis Leaf Extract
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Triethanolamine
BufferingTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, CI 77004, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, CI 77499, Charcoal Powder, Lonicera Japonica Leaf Extract, Vegetable Amino Acids, Bambusa Vulgaris Shoot Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Mentha Piperita Extract, Mentha Viridis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Triethanolamine, Triethyl Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Potassium Benzoate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Polysorbate 80, Cellulose Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-8
HumectantTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Saccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Isohexadecane
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Dextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-8, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Maltodextrin, Isohexadecane, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Polysorbate 80, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbitan Oleate, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA
Reviews
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 80 is a synthetic surfactant and emulsifier derived from sorbitol and oleic acid.
It reduces the surface tension between oil and water phases to help them stay mixed and stable in a formulation. In other words, it prevents your formulas from separating into an oily mess.
The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the scientific data and found this ingredient to be safe, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing at concentrations up to 5% (it's even approved by the FDA as an OTC eye drop ingredient).
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Propylene 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 GlycolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
