What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sea Water
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sea Water, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Panthenol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Olive Oil PEG-8 Esters
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingHoney
Humectant
Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acetyl Heptapeptide-4
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-150 Distearate, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Polysorbate 20, Olive Oil PEG-8 Esters, Parfum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Honey, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Polygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, BHT, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Reviews
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 GlycolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
