What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyester-5
Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Algae Extract
EmollientBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGentiana Scabra Extract
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyester-5, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Algae Extract, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Octyldodeceth-16, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Gentiana Scabra Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyester-5
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylpropanediol
SolventVp/Va Copolymer
Bifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Parfum
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Starch
Glyceryl Caprylate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Troxerutin
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Polyacrylate-21
Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Acrylates/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Medicago Sativa Extract
TonicGentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantCholesterol
Emollient
C11-15 Pareth-40
CleansingC11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Laureth-12 Sulfate
Cleansing
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Nitrogen
Water, Polyester-5, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylpropanediol, Vp/Va Copolymer, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Parfum, Hydroxypropyl Starch, Glyceryl Caprylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Troxerutin, Allantoin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Centella Asiatica Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Zinc PCA, Caffeine, Cyclodextrin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Polyacrylate-21, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Octyldodecanol, Acrylates/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Ceramide NP, Medicago Sativa Extract, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Polyglutamate, Cholesterol, C11-15 Pareth-40, C11-15 Pareth-7, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Laureth-12 Sulfate, Potassium Sorbate, Nitrogen
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
This ingredient is a postbiotic made by fermenting Bifidobacterium (a probiotic bacteria) and then filtering out the liquid portion. It has skin conditioning properties.
Much of the evidence for this ingredient is borrowed from the lysate form of this ingredient, which has a much stronger research base.
This ingredient is generally considered fungal acne (Malassezia) safe; Bifidobacterium is a bacterium, not a yeast or fungus.
The fungal acne concern with fermented ingredients mainly applies to yeast-derived ferments like Saccharomyces and Galactomyces, because those are in the same kingdom as Malassezia and could theoretically contain residual compounds that feed it.
Bifida is a completely different organism, so on its own it doesn't provide a food source for the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about Bifida Ferment FiltrateButylene 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 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 HydroxyacetophenonePEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
We don't have a description for Polyester-5 yet.
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 Water
