What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Erythritol
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Theanine
EmollientIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Erythritol, Trehalose, Xylitol, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Theanine, Isostearic Acid, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sodium Citrate, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Metaphosphate, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-30/10 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
PEG-20
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingParfum
Masking
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract
TonicCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, PEG/PPG-30/10 Dimethicone, PEG-20, Butylene Glycol, Erythritol, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Parfum, Polyquaternium-51, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, CI 19140, Tocopherol, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, CI 17200
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 AcidDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolYou might know this ingredient as a sugar substitute in foods. It is a sugar alcohol with humectant properties.
Humectants attract water to your skin (like glycerin or hyaluronic acid).
Fun fact: Erythritol can be naturally found in some fermented foods.
Learn more about ErythritolGlycerin (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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether yet.
We don't have a description for PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether yet.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTocopherol 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
