What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantPEG-8 Beeswax
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Ferulic Acid
AntimicrobialIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCeteareth-20
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDictyopteris Polypodioides Extract
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantPotassium Bitartrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, PEG-8 Beeswax, Butylene Glycol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ferulic Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Ceteareth-20, Dimethicone, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Dictyopteris Polypodioides Extract, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Potassium Bitartrate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientGuanosine
Skin ConditioningCyathea Medullaris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingHydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingLimonene
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCinnamic Acid
PerfumingPropylene Glycol
Humectant2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMyristic Acid
CleansingGeraniol
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBHT
AntioxidantLaureth-7
EmulsifyingLevulinic Acid
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Octyldodecanol, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Guanosine, Cyathea Medullaris Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Sodium Citrate, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Levulinate, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Adenosine, Acer Saccharum Extract, Palmitic Acid, Polyacrylamide, Chlorphenesin, Poloxamer 338, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Benzyl Alcohol, Cinnamic Acid, Propylene Glycol, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Myristic Acid, Geraniol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, BHT, Laureth-7, Levulinic Acid, Hexyl Cinnamal, Glyceryl Caprylate, Parfum
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 GlycolCitric 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 AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water