What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Urea
Buffering
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Mea
BufferingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Polysilicone-11
Triacetin
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Sorbitol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Docosahexaenoic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Urea, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Bisabolol, Dimethyl Mea, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phosphatidylcholine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Allantoin, Hyaluronic Acid, Polysilicone-11, Triacetin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Serine, Sorbitol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Copper Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
