What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Rosa Centifolia Flower Oil
Masking
Epilobium Fleischeri Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Kernel Extract
MoisturisingPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ozokerite, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Silica, Rosa Centifolia Flower Oil, Epilobium Fleischeri Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Prunus Persica Kernel Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77891, CI 77491, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Pullulan
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingTrehalose
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Menthol
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Inositol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Maltose
MaskingSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Prunus Avium Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Alcohol, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, PEG-150 Distearate, Pentylene Glycol, Pullulan, Pvp, Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Arginine, Carbomer, Parfum, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Menthol, Citric Acid, Inositol, Panthenol, Maltodextrin, Maltose, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Citrate, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Prunus Avium Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, CI 42090, CI 19140
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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
