What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSalicylic Acid
MaskingChamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMalpighia Glabra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningFructan
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantGlycolic Acid
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Seed Extract
AntioxidantZinc PCA
HumectantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentBetaine
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract, Fructan, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Glycolic Acid, Gluconolactone, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Zinc PCA, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Betaine, Beta-Glucan, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Potassium Hydroxide, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Leaf Extract
AstringentBisabolol
AntioxidantSaccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingDimethiconol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Avena Sativa Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Gluconolactone, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Dimethiconol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Gluconate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Polyacrylate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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