What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDiospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Dextrin
AbsorbentGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Betaine, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Methicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Polyquaternium-51, Sorbitan Isostearate, Dextrin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, C12-16 Alcohols, Palmitic Acid, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Pinus Koraiensis Seed Oil
Perfuming
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentNelumbo Nucifera Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C14-22 Alcohols, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Pinus Koraiensis Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Germ Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Squalane, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Palmitic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Hydroxide, Parfum
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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylatePalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidWater. 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
