What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Aloe Arborescens Leaf Extract
MoisturisingPanax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Basilicum Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Trehalose
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Aloe Arborescens Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Seed Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Asiaticoside, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Powder
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract
HumectantTriticum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract
EmollientCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Tromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Powder, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
