What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEchinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingSetaria Italica Seed Extract
HumectantFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Setaria Italica Seed Extract, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyacrylamide
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
4-Terpineol
Masking
Succinic Acid
BufferingMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Triethanolamine
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventPEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-20
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Isononyl Isononanoate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Polyacrylamide, Salix Alba Bark Extract, 4-Terpineol, Succinic Acid, Madecassoside, Salicylic Acid, Triethanolamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Methylpropanediol, PEG-40 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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 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 AcidPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
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
