What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract 21.608%
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSaccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingPolyglycerin-3
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingGlycereth-26
HumectantCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingAgar
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingRibes Nigrum Leaf Extract
PerfumingFructooligosaccharides
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBarosma Betulina Leaf Extract
PerfumingLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantRibes Nigrum Fruit Extract
AstringentPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Algin
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentWater, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract 21.608%, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Propanediol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, C12-14 Pareth-12, Polyglycerin-3, Methyl Gluceth-20, Methyl Gluceth-10, Glycereth-26, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Agar, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xanthan Gum, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Ribes Nigrum Leaf Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Ethylhexylglycerin, Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Pullulan, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Madecassoside, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Papain, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Algin, Dextrin
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentKaolin
AbrasiveMannan
Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Yeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingFragaria Vesca Fruit
AstringentSilica
AbrasiveXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Magnesium Silicate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Aroma
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Sodium Polyacrylate, Kaolin, Mannan, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Yeast Ferment Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Fragaria Vesca Fruit, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Dextrin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glutathione, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium EDTA, Aroma
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
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerDextrin is used to thicken a product and helps bind ingredients together. It is created from starch and glycogen.
As an emulsifier, dextrin prevents ingredients from separating. This helps elongate a product's shelf life.
Studies show coating UV filters with dextrin prevents these ingredients from being absorbed. This helps UV ingredients last longer on the skin.
Learn more about DextrinDipropylene 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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycereth-26 is a synthetic ingredient and polyethylene glycol ether of Glycerin. Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin and helps keep your skin moisturized.
It is a humectant and helps add texture to products. It can make your product thicker.
As a humectant, it helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps your skin stay hydrated.
Learn more about Glycereth-26Glycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolThis ingredient is also called sugarcane extract. It is a moisturizing humectant and has skin soothing properties.
Similar to hyaluronic acid, sugarcane can attract moisture to your skin.
Glycolic acid is a derivative of sugarcane. While glycolic acid is an AHA with exfoliating properties, sugarcane is not an AHA.
A study from 2021 found the compounds in sugarcane extract to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity. The study also suggests these compounds can inhibit skin ageing enzymes and promote collagen synthesis.
Learn more about Saccharum Officinarum ExtractWater. 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