What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningErythritol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Polyglutamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ectoin, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Erythritol, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Stearate
Emulsifying
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Punica Granatum Sterols
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Monarda Didyma Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Hull Extract
MoisturisingSilver
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hordeum Distichon Extract
Skin ProtectingTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Oleate
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingCocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Linalool
Perfuming
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Isoamyl Laurate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Propanediol, Coconut Alkanes, Dicaprylyl Ether, Polyglyceryl-4 Stearate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Squalane, Punica Granatum Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Monarda Didyma Extract, Oryza Sativa Hull Extract, Silver, Polyglutamic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Oil, Hordeum Distichon Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces Lysate, Decyl Oleate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Citric Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Cocos Nucifera Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Linalool, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum
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 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 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 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 GlycerinPolyglutamic Acid is made up many glutamic acids chained together. It is created from bacterial fermentation.
This ingredient is an effective skin hydrator and may help speed up wound healing. As a humectant, it draws and holds water to the skin. This ingredient is often compared to hyaluronic acid or glycerin. Similarly to hyaluronic acid, it can vary in molecular weights. This means polyglutamic acid is capable of bringing hydration to lower levels of the skin.
Fun fact: Polyglutamic Acid is found in the Japanese food, natto. It is also being used in cancer treatment studies.
Learn more about Polyglutamic AcidPropanediol 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
