What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPotassium Methoxysalicylate
BleachingLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin Conditioning
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Erythritol
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Diglycerin, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Potassium Methoxysalicylate, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Erythritol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Polyacrylate, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Isostearyl Alcohol, Isostearic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Linalool, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 17200, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water
MaskingRosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Physalis Alkekengi Calyx Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Panthenol, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Physalis Alkekengi Calyx Extract, Salix Alba Leaf Extract, Adenosine, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool
Reviews
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 AcidDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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.
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
