What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Citrus Sunki Peel Extract
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningLepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Acmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingGlucose
Humectant
Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentAvena Sativa Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Aestivum Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Dipropylene Glycol, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Citrus Sunki Peel Extract, Tocopherol, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Anhydroxylitol, Asiatic Acid, Xylitol, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Glucose, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Avena Sativa Peptide, Triticum Aestivum Peptide, Glycine Max Polypeptide
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Bentonite
Absorbent
CI 77891
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Volcanic Ash
Abrasive
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentOnsen-Sui
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-10
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Glycerin, Bentonite, CI 77891, 1,2-Hexanediol, Volcanic Ash, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Onsen-Sui, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Gluconolactone, Madecassoside, Lactic Acid, Polyquaternium-10, Tocopherol
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 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolTocopherol 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 Water
