What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingDisodium EDTA
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingFructooligosaccharides
HumectantMonarda Didyma Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientViola Mandshurica Flower Extract
AntioxidantDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCetraria Islandica Extract
CleansingWater, Methylpropanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Adenosine, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Carbomer, Octyldodeceth-16, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Beta-Glucan, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cetraria Islandica Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantBetaine
HumectantErythritol
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glyceryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Trehalose, Betaine, Erythritol, Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Methyl Trimethicone, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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