What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDechloro Dihydroxy Difluoro Ethylcloprostenolamide
Alanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicGlycine
BufferingProline
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantMoringa Oleifera Callus Extract
AntioxidantPanax Ginseng Extract
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Dechloro Dihydroxy Difluoro Ethylcloprostenolamide, Alanine, Arginine, Biotin, Glycine, Proline, Tyrosine, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Moringa Oleifera Callus Extract, Panax Ginseng Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventHydroxypropylgluconamide
HumectantHydroxypropylammonium Gluconate
HumectantMyristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicDextran
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentCaffeine
Skin ConditioningC15-23 Alkane
SolventTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingLecithin
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC13-14 Alkane
SolventPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingTartaric Acid
BufferingBenzoic Acid
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Hydroxypropylgluconamide, Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Biotin, Dextran, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Caffeine, C15-23 Alkane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Decyl Glucoside, Lecithin, Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, C13-14 Alkane, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Tartaric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Biotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.
Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.
More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.
Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.
Learn more about BiotinButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinMyristoyl Pentapeptide-17 is a five amino peptide attached to myristic acid to help it absorb better into skin. It's mostly used for lash growth and as a delivery vehicle for other ingredients.
The myristic acid "tail" is basically a delivery upgrade that helps the peptide mix with your skin's natural oils so it can get where it needs to go.
In your eyelash follicles, it activates the keratin gene and promotes nutrient absorption into the follicle. This translates to thicker and longer eyelashes over time.
Besides stimulating keratin production for lash growth, this ingredient enhances the delivery of other active ingredients in a formula.
The clinical evidence is still pretty early-stage at this point. A 90 day study in 29 participants found improvements in lash length (10.52%), volume (9.3%), thickness (35%), and curl (50.83%) with no adverse reactions reported.
You might have heard that eyelash serums can cause pigmentation change in eye color to turn eyes brown. This is associated with a different class of lash serum ingredients: prostaglandin analogs.
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17 is a different thing entirely and has no known association with iris pigmentation changes. The 90 day study noted no adverse effects around the eye area at all.
Learn more about Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPropanediol 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 PropanediolWater. 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