What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantLinoleic Acid
CleansingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingPiperonyl Glucoside
Skin ProtectingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysilicone-11
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Algin
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOleic Acid
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBenzoic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantLinolenic Acid
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlycolic Acid
BufferingGalactoarabinan
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Linoleic Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Beta-Glucan, Magnesium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Piperonyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Polysilicone-11, Panthenol, Bisabolol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Algin, Xanthan Gum, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, CI 77288, Linolenic Acid, Citric Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Glycolic Acid, Galactoarabinan, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingNeopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Soybean Oil
EmollientPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBeheneth-5
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Stearate
EmulsifyingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialBisabolol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydrogenated Soy Polyglycerides
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactobionic Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantC15-23 Alkane
SolventWater, Lactic Acid, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Beheneth-5, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Sclerotium Gum, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Gluconolactone, Mandelic Acid, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Soy Polyglycerides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phospholipids, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Allantoin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactobionic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, C15-23 Alkane
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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