What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Triethanolamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingSodium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion Stabilising
Glucose
Humectant
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Allantoin, Ethoxydiglycol, Ferulic Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Sodium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Glucose, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beeswax, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
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 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
