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
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAgrimonia Eupatoria Extract
AstringentDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingPerilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingYucca Schidigera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientQuillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingSaponaria Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningWater, 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 ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-15 Glyceryl Isostearate
EmulsifyingPEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
EmollientBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantTorreya Nucifera Seed Oil
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingOrchid Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
AstringentTocopherol
AntioxidantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-15 Glyceryl Isostearate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Torreya Nucifera Seed Oil, Salicylic Acid, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Orchid Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractDipropylene 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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