What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantCannabis Sativa Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Antioxidant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Vinyldimethicone
Silica
Abrasive
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Isomalt
HumectantSucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pollen Extract
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate
Emulsion StabilisingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingStearic Acid
Cleansing
7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Calcium Chloride
AstringentVitis Vinifera Juice Extract
Antioxidant
Phytol
Emollient
Water, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Glycerin, Vinyldimethicone, Silica, Sorbitan Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Ceramide NP, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Olivate, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glyceryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Oil Unsaponifiables, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil Unsaponifiables, Tocopherol, Isomalt, Sucrose Cocoate, Cholesterol, Gluconolactone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pollen Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Xylitol, Glucose, Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, Myristic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Stearic Acid, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Calcium Chloride, Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract, Phytol
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
Disodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
