What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantChondrus Crispus
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientKousou
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Chloride
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tin Oxide
AbrasiveXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Chondrus Crispus, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trehalose, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Kousou, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucomannan, Hydroxyacetophenone, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Chloride, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Xanthan Gum, CI 77007, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantChondrus Crispus
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlucose
HumectantMenthyl Lactate
MaskingPotassium Chloride
Tin Oxide
AbrasiveCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Chondrus Crispus, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glucomannan, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polyglutamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Glucose, Menthyl Lactate, Potassium Chloride, Tin Oxide, CI 77491, CI 77510, CI 77891
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 GlycolChondrus Crispus is a red algae native to the northern Atlantic ocean.
It is rich in antioxidants. The polysaccharides, peptides, and amino acid content helps moisturize skin.
Antioxidants present in chondrus crispus include lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein has the ability to filter blue light from screens.
Learn more about Chondrus CrispusCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlucomannan is a fiber created from the Konjac plant. It is an emulsifier and thickener.
The high polysaccharide content makes it great at adjusting the texture of products. (Kind of like starch).
Polysaccharides also help our skin stay hydrated.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about GlucomannanGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWe don't have a description for Potassium Chloride yet.
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 GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSynthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteTin Oxide is an inorganic oxide used to add opacity and volume to a product. In nature, it is already found in mineral form. The main ore of tin is an opaque and shiny mineral called casseterite.
Tin Oxide helps remove translucency in a product, or make it more opaque. Besides adding opacity, tin oxide is used for bulking to add volume.
Water. 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