What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantLilium Tigrinum Extract
Skin ConditioningRose Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Extract
MaskingIris Ensata Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningFreesia Refracta Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAllium Sativum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Coreanus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Aronia Melanocarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Fruit Extract
AstringentSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningCorthellus Shiitake Extract
Skin ProtectingMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingLawsonia Inermis Extract
AntimicrobialRosin
Charcoal Powder
AbrasivePrunus Serotina Fruit Extract
MaskingFish Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit
AstringentRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentRubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMentha Piperita Extract
CleansingRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dihydroxyacetone, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, CI 42090, CI 17200, CI 19140, CI 15985, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Rose Extract, Jasminum Officinale Extract, Iris Ensata Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Allium Sativum Bulb Extract, Rubus Coreanus Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Aronia Melanocarpa Fruit Extract, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Corthellus Shiitake Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Lawsonia Inermis Extract, Rosin, Charcoal Powder, Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract, Fish Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Mentha Piperita Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPolyvinyl Alcohol
Butylene Glycol
HumectantDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningCeteth-20
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLaureth-25
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSoluble Collagen
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTrisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol Denat., Polyvinyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Dihydroxyacetone, Ceteth-20, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Laureth-25, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propylene Glycol, Royal Jelly Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Soluble Collagen, Potassium Sorbate, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, CI 19140, CI 17200, CI 42090
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolCI 17200 is a synthetic, water-soluble, reddish-pink dye. It is used purely as a cosmetic colorant.
In the US, the FDA permits this ingredient in cosmetics but it is not approved for use around the eyes while the EU allows this to be used in all cosmetic products.
The FDA requires batch-to-batch certification for this ingredient that is held to a pretty rigorous standard. That means the CI 17200 in your cosmetics has been tested and approved before it ever reaches you.
Contact allergy to cosmetic-grade dyes used at low concentrations are uncommon but has been documented before.
This ingredient also goes by the name D&C RED NO. 33.
CI 17200 has a comedogenic rating of 1 and an irritancy rating of 2 on a scale of 0-5. This is based on peer-reviewed research from the man who invented the comedogenic scale.
A 1 on the comedogenic scale is about as low as it gets without being a flat zero, and makes sense for CI 17200.
It's a water-soluble dye used at very small concentrations (typically 0.001-0.1%), so it dissolves into the water phase of a formula rather than sitting on your skin the way an oil or wax would.
The irritancy rating of 2 reflects that, like most synthetic dyes, there's a small possibility of mild irritation ( particularly for people with existing dye sensitivities).
For the vast majority of people, it's a non-issue at typical use levels.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Just so you know, the FDA ban on Red Dye No. 3 refers to CI 45430, not this ingredient. CI 45430 and CI 17200 are different chemical compounds with distinct safety and regulatory histories.
It's also worth noting that Red No. 3 (CI 45430) was already banned from cosmetics back in 1990, so the 2025 action just extended the ban to food and oral drugs. CI 17200 was never part of any of this.
Learn more about CI 17200CI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.
Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.
Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
Learn more about CI 19140Ci 42090 is a synthetic dye created from petroleum. It is used to give a bright blue color to cosmetics, medicine, and food.
Dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, is the active ingredient in self-tanners.
It's a simply sugar that reacts with the free amino acids in your outermost layer of skin to produce brown-colored compounds called melanoidins.
DHA does not penetrate living skin cells, does not interact with melanocytes, and does not affect actualy melanin production.
There's a "safety controversy" that largely stems from misinterpreted studies:
Once concern is that DHA can generate unstable molecules that can damage cells (free radicals) when exposed to sunlight. This only happens in the outermost layer of dead skin cells and wearing SPF on top takes care of it.
The DNA damage claim comes from lab studies that doused living skin cells in much higher concentrations of DHA than you'd ever find in a self-tanner. That's not really a meaningful comparison to putting self-tanning lotion on your skin.
Regulatory bodies around the world, including the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and the U.S. FDA consider it safe for use in cosmetics when applied topically (maximum 10%, and most self-tanners contain between 3-5%).
Learn more about DihydroxyacetoneDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene 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 Water