What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Betaine
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Alpha-Arbutin, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glycerin, Panthenol, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Carboxymethyl Starch
Emulsion StabilisingPhenylpropanol
MaskingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlucose
HumectantAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Carboxymethyl Starch, Phenylpropanol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ferulic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glucose, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum