What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingWater, Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningGlycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Squalane
Emollient
Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningCystine
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Ergosterol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Carbomer/Papain Crosspolymer
Phytic Acid
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAlgin
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Citrus Species Peel Extract
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Tranexamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lactic Acid, Ergothioneine, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Tocopherol, Sodium PCA, Fructooligosaccharides, Bioflavonoids, Glycoproteins, Glycine, Squalane, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Beta-Carotene, Cystine, Pentylene Glycol, Mannitol, Ergosterol, Xanthan Gum, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Carbomer/Papain Crosspolymer, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Acacia Senegal Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Algin, Disodium Phosphate, Limonene, Citrus Species Peel Extract
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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol 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 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
