What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantBehenic Acid
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingLauric Acid
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingStyrax Benzoin Gum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingTourmaline
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyquaternium-7
Butylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
PEG-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Behenic Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Palmitic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Styrax Benzoin Gum, Linalool, Limonene, Tourmaline, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-7, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, PEG-3 Distearate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPrunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauryl Glucoside, Acrylates Copolymer, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, 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 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol 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