What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantHexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantEnantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantC12-15 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantLecithin
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeWater, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Oleanolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Pareth-12, Glycerin, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantEctoin
Skin ConditioningAmylopectin
Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentSodium PCA
HumectantLysine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingThreonine
Serine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantProline
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcacia Senegal Gum
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingWater, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Ectoin, Amylopectin, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Beta-Glucan, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Bioflavonoids, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Sodium PCA, Lysine, Histidine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Threonine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Proline, Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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