What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Sodium PCA, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, Tetrasodium EDTA, BHT, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glutathione
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Antioxidant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Extract
AstringentCnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Euglena Gracilis Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Triethanolamine, Salicylic Acid, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Chlorphenesin, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Extract, Cnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolic Acid, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Euglena Gracilis Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP
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
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 GlycolChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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.
This ingredient is also known as sweet almond oil. It is a lightweight, cold-pressed oil from the ripe seeds of the sweet almond tree.
Sweet almond oil is rich in skin-nourishing fatty acids such as oleic acid (55-86%) and linolenic acid (7-35%).
As an emollient, it softens and hydrates skin by forming a thin barrier that locks in moisture.
Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing. The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the available safety data and concluded it is safe for topical use.
Because of the oleic acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis OilStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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
