What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPEG-8
HumectantSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentMethyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Honey
HumectantOryza Sativa Germ Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSericin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeRosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract
TonicTocopherol
AntioxidantSoluble Collagen
HumectantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, PEG-8, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Methyl Gluceth-10, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Metabisulfite, Disodium EDTA, Honey, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Sericin, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Soluble Collagen
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Niacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantOleyl Erucate
EmollientHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantTetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantTetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingCurcuma Longa Root Oil
PerfumingCurcuma Longa Root Powder
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Niacinamide, Betaine, Glycereth-26, Oleyl Erucate, Hexylresorcinol, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Powder, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ferulic Acid, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Lecithin, Glycine Soja Oil, Allantoin, Beta-Carotene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caramel, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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