What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventEthoxydiglycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingTrehalose
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCollagen
MoisturisingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantAllium Sativum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveBertholletia Excelsa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Seed Extract
HumectantSalmon Egg Extract
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingWine Extract
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingGlucose
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPullulan
Glycerin
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Squalane
EmollientSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientSodium DNA
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Ethoxydiglycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Collagen, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Soluble Collagen, Allium Sativum Bulb Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Salmon Egg Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Wine Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Tromethamine, Glucose, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Cyanocobalamin, Tocopherol, Pullulan, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Soluble Proteoglycan, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Sodium DNA, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract
EmollientEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSalicylic Acid
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Phytate
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveDextrin
AbsorbentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclohexasiloxane, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Panthenol, Ectoin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Synthetic Beeswax, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Salicylic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Silica, Dextrin, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Madecassoside, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate is made by combining ten units of glycerin with oleic acid.
According to a manufacturer, it is a low-irritation and hydrophilic (water loving) skin conditioning agent. It also improves the sensory feel and texture of a product.
Fungal acne note:
Since this ingredient is made from oleic acid, it might not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast survives by eating certain fats, including oleic acid.
However, it should be noted this oleic acid is chemically bound to a large polyglycerol molecule, so it might not trigger fungal acne for everyone.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 OleateSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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