What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingZea Mays Kernel Extract
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Fructan
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Annua Extract
MaskingTaraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Water, Panthenol, Dipropylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Citrate, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Beta-Glucan, Citric Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fructan, Glucose, Pentylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Artemisia Annua Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentCalcium Chloride
AstringentButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentAnastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Glucomannan, Dextrin, Calcium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol
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 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 GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser. On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LaurateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
