What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract
HumectantMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Propanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactobionic Acid, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract, Madecassoside
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Silanetriol
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Extract, Water, Lactic Acid, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Mentha Piperita Oil, Silanetriol, Hyaluronic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lactobacillus, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Polysorbate 20, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.Â
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
