What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Parfum
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Seed Oil
Emollient
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Amodimethicone
CI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61565
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Niacinamide, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Parfum, Carbomer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Seed Oil, Octocrylene, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Cellulose Gum, Homosalate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Amodimethicone, CI 40800, CI 61565, CI 60725
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C13-15 Alkane
SolventTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Palmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Pea
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Lentinus Edodes Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientDiacetyl Boldine
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Pentapeptide-34 Trifluoroacetate
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Caprylate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Succinate
BufferingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C13-15 Alkane, Tranexamic Acid, Glycerin, Alpha-Arbutin, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Hydrolyzed Pea, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Diacetyl Boldine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lactobacillus, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Glucose, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Pentapeptide-34 Trifluoroacetate, C14-22 Alcohols, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sorbitan Caprylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Carbomer, Sodium Phytate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Succinate, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
