What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-47
Skin Conditioning
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Avena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-47, Soluble Collagen, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butylene Glycol, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Onopordum Acanthium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSuccinoglycan
Skin ConditioningAsteriscus Graveolens Flower/Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ProtectingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Ribes Nigrum Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Hexamethylindanopyran
Masking
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Onopordum Acanthium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Succinoglycan, Asteriscus Graveolens Flower/Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Gluconate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Propylene Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Lactate, Tocopherol, Parfum, Ribes Nigrum Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Coco-Glucoside, Hexamethylindanopyran, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (formerly Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3) is a synthetic peptide. Its main job is to fight what researchers call "inflammaging".
"Inflammaging" is the slow, low-grade chronic inflammation that quietly breaks down collagen as we age.
This ingredient calms down a specific inflammation signal in your skin cells (called IL-6). When left unchecked, this signal triggers enzymes that break down collagen and elastin.
Clinical testing showed statistically significant improvements in:
Studies also found the more of this ingredient used, the more your skin produces Collagen I, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.
You'll likely see this ingredient paired with Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in the well-known Matrixyl 3000 complex for enhanced anti-aging effects.
A 3% concentration applied twice daily for two months showed meaningful skin rejuvenation results in clinical panels.
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted effects and reactions from a product. These metal ions may come from water and are found in miniscule amounts.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate can also help other preservatives be more effective.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
