What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Acanthopanax Senticosus Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Cordyceps Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Annua Extract
Masking
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Chitin
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Arbutin, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Acanthopanax Senticosus Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Adenosine, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Caprylyl Glycol, Asiaticoside, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Chitin, Hyaluronic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventIsohexadecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMorinda Citrifolia Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Elettaria Cardamomum Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientRosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Isohexadecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sodium Chloride, Cyclohexasiloxane, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Leaf Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Elettaria Cardamomum Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Tocopherol
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 GlycolGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate (GFF) is a byproduct of fermenting Galactomyces yeast (the same yeast traditionally used to brew sake, Japan's beloved rice wine).
Sake brewers have long been known for their remarkably youthful hands. This is what actually first sparked scientific interest in GFF's skin benefits.
GFF works by stimulating filaggrin production in the skin. Filaggrin is a protein that binds structural proteins in the outer skin layer together to form a tight barrier that shields against allergens, bacteria, and moisture loss.
It's also a key building block of our natural moisturizing factors (NMF), or the network of compounds that keep skin plump and hydrated.
By boosting filaggrin, GFF helps strengthen both our barrier and our skin's ability to retain moisture.
Beyond hydration, GFF has notable antioxidant properties that help protect against oxidative stress and UV-induced inflammation.
Research also suggests it may help regulate sebum and keratin production. This could be an interesting option for those concerned about oiliness or skin texture.
Fungal acne:
This ingredient doesn't contain fatty acids or oils that could feed Malassezia, and the yeast used to make it (Galactomyces) is a different genera of fungi from Malassezia. The presence of one doesn't stimulate the other.
However, there is a concern raised by some communities that this ingredient could trigger a reaction in people who are broadly sensitive to yeast/fungal-derived ingredients.
Learn more about Galactomyces Ferment FiltrateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
