What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
HumectantOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Chlorphenesin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Honey Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Propolis Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingParfum
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Panthenol, Arginine, Carbomer, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Parfum, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 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 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 PanthenolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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