What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Vp/Va Copolymer
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyurethane-10
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Acrylates/Lauryl Acrylate/Stearyl Acrylate/Ethylamine Oxide Methacrylate Copolymer
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Phenoxyethanol, Vp/Va Copolymer, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Polyurethane-10, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Ectoin, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Acrylates/Lauryl Acrylate/Stearyl Acrylate/Ethylamine Oxide Methacrylate Copolymer, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Ganoderma Lucidum Extract/Lentinus Edodes Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Hectorite
AbsorbentBis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientLinalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingAroma
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Ectoin, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus/Ganoderma Lucidum Extract/Lentinus Edodes Extract Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces Ferment, Disodium EDTA, Hectorite, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citric Acid, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Aroma, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol
Reviews
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 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 EDTAEctoin is a compound found naturally in some species of bacteria. It can be synthetically created for skincare use.
This ingredient is an osmolyte; Osmolytes help organisms survive osmotic shock (it protects them from extreme conditions). It does this by influencing the properties of biological fluids within cells.
When applied to the skin, ectoin helps bind water molecules to protect our skin. The water forms a sort of armor for the parts of our skin cells, enzymes, proteins, and more.
Besides this, ectoin has many uses in skincare:
A study from 2004 found ectoin to counteract the damage from UV-A exposure at different cell levels. It has also been shown to protect skin against both UV-A, UV-B rays, infrared light, and visible light.
Studies show ectoin to have dual-action pollution protection: first, it protects our skin from further pollution damage. Second, it helps repair damage from pollution.
In fact, ectoin has been shown to help with:
Fun fact: In the EU, ectoin is used in inhalation medication as an anti-pollution ingredient.
Ectoin is a highly stable ingredient. It has a wide pH range of 1-9. Light, oxygen, and temperature do not affect this ingredient.
The chemical name for this ingredient is Tetrahydromethylpyrimidine Carboxylic Acid.
Learn more about EctoinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Rosa Damascena Flower Water is the water-based byproduct of steam-distilling damask rose petals. It has skin conditioning, masking, and skin protecting properties.
Research shows that Rosa damascena is rich in flavonoids and phenolic compounds like gallic acid that contribute to its antioxidant activity.
In vitro studies have shown that Rosa damascena can scavenge free radicals and reduce melanin overproduction. Research has also found this extract offers some degree of UV absorption but this should not replace your sunscreen.
Learn more about Rosa Damascena Flower WaterWater. 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
