What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearoxymethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Isohexadecane
EmollientBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Tetrasodium EDTA
Tetrapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Stearoxymethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Octyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Isohexadecane, Boron Nitride, Hydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylparaben, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 80, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Ethylparaben, Polysorbate 20, Silica, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrapeptide-21, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPorphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Lactobacillus Ferment, Niacinamide, Hexylene Glycol, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caffeine, Sucrose, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol Denat., Phenoxyethanol, 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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
