What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Agrimonia Eupatoria Extract
AstringentDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingYucca Schidigera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingSaponaria Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Water, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Agrimonia Eupatoria Extract, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Yucca Schidigera Root Extract, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Angelica Archangelica Root Extract
Masking
Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantMalpighia Glabra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Citrate, Panthenol, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract
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
Bifida Ferment Lysate is a postbiotic ingredient made by fermenting Bifidobacterium to extract a nutrient-rich mix of peptides, amino acids, vitamins, organic acids, and polysaccharides.
These components are basically the building blocks that your skin already uses to stay hydrated, repair itself, and maintain its barrier. That's why this ingredient helps your skin hold onto moisture and stay resilient against irritation.
One in-vitro study found that this ingredient tells your skin cells to produce more of the proteins (filaggrin, loricrin, and involucrin) for building a strong and healthy barrier. This study also found this ingredient to be a solid antioxidant that helped neutralize damage against UV and pollution.
A study with people from 2010 found that sensitive, reactive skin using a cream with 10% of this ingredient for a month became noticeably less dry, less reactive, and harder to irritate compared to the group using a plain cream.
In short, this ingredient is a well-tolerated ingredient that can help with barrier repair, antioxidant protection, and calming reactive skin.
This ingredient is generally considered fungal acne (Malassezia) safe; Bifidobacterium is a bacterium, not a yeast or fungus.
The fungal acne concern with fermented ingredients mainly applies to yeast-derived ferments like Saccharomyces and Galactomyces, because those are in the same kingdom as Malassezia and could theoretically contain residual compounds that feed it.
Bifida is a completely different organism, so on its own it doesn't provide a food source for the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about Bifida Ferment LysateButylene 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDipropylene 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 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 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 EthylhexylglycerinSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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
