What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantTriethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol Alginate
BHT
AntioxidantCetrimonium Bromide
AntimicrobialSalicylic Acid
MaskingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingPropylparaben
PreservativeDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol Alginate, BHT, Cetrimonium Bromide, Salicylic Acid, Pyridoxine Hcl, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Methylparaben, Parfum, Propylparaben, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Maltodextrin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantLaurocapram
Skin ConditioningGalla Rhois Gallnut Extract
AntimicrobialCamphor
MaskingMenthol
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyacrylate-13
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentSalvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingTriethanolamine
BufferingPolyisobutene
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
EmollientSaposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract
AntimicrobialCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingAlbizia Julibrissin Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGastrodia Elata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polysorbate 60, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Laurocapram, Galla Rhois Gallnut Extract, Camphor, Menthol, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylate-13, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Triethanolamine, Polyisobutene, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Saposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Flower Extract, Gastrodia Elata Root Extract
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDisodium 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 GlycerinTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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