What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Betaine
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cetearyl Olivate
Kaolin
AbrasiveSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCalamine
AbsorbentOpuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberSodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Cetearyl Olivate, Kaolin, Sorbitan Olivate, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Calamine, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Trehalose, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dextrin
Houttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningFraxinus Rhynchophylla Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
TonicAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Phytate
Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHouttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Glycerin, Water, Ethylhexyl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Fraxinus Rhynchophylla Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Methyl Trimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Betaine, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Phytate, Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Carbomer
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateWater. 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