What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Betaine, Arginine, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Allantoin, Cetearyl Olivate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caramel
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Disteardimonium Hectorite, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cetyl Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Microcrystalline Wax, Palmitic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Tocopherol, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, CI 77491, CI 77492
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolMandarin peel oil is an essential oil made by distilling the peel of mandarin oranges. It is primarily used for fragrance but has some secondary skin conditioning effects.
This ingredient is rich in limonene and is generally considered milder than some other citrus oils (like lemon or bergamot). It is not strongly phototoxic because it contains little to no furocoumarins when properly produced.
Like other essential oils, this ingredient can be a fragrance allergen.
Learn more about Citrus Nobilis Peel OilEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol 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
