What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBetaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrofortunella Microcarpa Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Citrate, Betaine Salicylate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrofortunella Microcarpa Fruit Extract, Trehalose, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Beta-Glucan, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Propolis Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Limonene, Linalool
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Nardus Oil
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Mentha Viridis Extract
MaskingLactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Coptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Melo Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Extract
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Linalool
Perfuming
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Hesperidin
EmollientPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Water, Methyl Gluceth-20, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, Methyl Gluceth-10, Polyglycerin-3, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gluconolactone, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Cymbopogon Nardus Oil, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Mentha Viridis Extract, Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract, Geraniol, Citronellol, Coptis Japonica Extract, Cucumis Melo Seed Extract, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Glucose, Beta-Glucan, Linalool, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Cetyl Palmitate, Ubiquinone, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Stearate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ergothioneine, Hesperidin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
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.
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
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidAllantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinBeta-Glucan is a polysaccharide. It can be derived from the cell walls of seaweed, oats, yeast, and fungi. It hydrates the skin and helps boost your skin's natural barrier.
As an antioxidant, beta-glucan helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Studies show this ingredient may be an effective wrinkle reducer as it can deeply penetrate into skin. It has also been show to help with wound healing.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene 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 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 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 GlycerinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolWater. 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
