What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialPropanediol
SolventArginine
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantIsopentyldiol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Phytate
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingEthyl Linoleate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingGarcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Mandelic Acid, Propanediol, Arginine, Glycerin, Isopentyldiol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hexylresorcinol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Phytate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethyl Linoleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingNeopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
EmollientPPG-3 Isostearyl Methyl Ether
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentNiacinamide
SmoothingZinc PCA
HumectantSteareth-2
EmulsifyingEthyl Lactyl Retinoate
AbrasiveSalicylic Acid
MaskingOligopeptide-10
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
AntioxidantBoswellia Serrata Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingHoney Extract
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Pullulan
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Sorbitan Stearate, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, PPG-3 Isostearyl Methyl Ether, Glycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Niacinamide, Zinc PCA, Steareth-2, Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate, Salicylic Acid, Oligopeptide-10, Sodium Hyaluronate, Decylene Glycol, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Honey Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Disodium EDTA, Pullulan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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