What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingTriethanolamine
BufferingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeIsohexadecane
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Styrene
PerfumingBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeBisabolol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSodium Benzoate
MaskingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Allantoin, Urea, Triethanolamine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, DMDM Hydantoin, Isohexadecane, Polyacrylate-13, Styrene, BHT, Disodium EDTA, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientArbutin
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Triethylhexanoin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Arbutin, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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