What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingZea Mays Oil
EmulsifyingTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Limonene
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Propanediol, Betaine, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Panthenol, Squalane, Niacinamide, Adenosine, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Zea Mays Oil, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Dextrin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG-32
HumectantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantNiacin
SmoothingCarnitine Hcl
HumectantPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Potassium Hydroxide, PEG-32, Ferulic Acid, Tocopherol, Retinyl Palmitate, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Niacin, Carnitine Hcl, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, Folic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Disodium EDTA
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.
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 preservatives
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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