What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantTrisodium Phosphate
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-4
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Spirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Trisodium Phosphate, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Laureth-4, Parfum, Benzophenone-4, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, CI 42090, Tocopherol, CI 14700, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTriethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhytantriol
HumectantButeth-3
SolventPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantTributyl Citrate
SolventSodium Sulfate
Laureth-3
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin Protecting1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantBenzoic Acid
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingMethylparaben
PreservativeMyristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin ConditioningPropylparaben
PreservativeCymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
MaskingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Phytantriol, Buteth-3, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Benzophenone-4, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Tributyl Citrate, Sodium Sulfate, Laureth-3, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Palmaria Palmata Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Ascorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Methylparaben, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Propylparaben, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, CI 15985, CI 17200
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzophenone-4 is a water-soluble chemical sunscreen.
It protects in the UV-B range, but is considered a secondary UV absorber. This means that it needs to be paired with other sunscreen ingredients to provide effective protection.
Typically, it's used in cosmetic products to protect them from deterioration caused by UV rays. This is why you'll find it in a lot of products that aren't sunscreens.
Learn more about Benzophenone-4Butylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water