What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
SolventDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingMethylpropanediol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPolyether-1
T-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Zinc Oxide, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Niacinamide, Caprylyl Methicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Methylpropanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Polyether-1, T-Butyl Alcohol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
HumectantPolysilicone-11
Dimethicone
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPolysorbate 40
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingLaureth-12
EmulsifyingBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Aviculare Extract
EmollientMelanin
Skin ProtectingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Butylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Dimethicone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Saccharide Isomerate, Octocrylene, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Decyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 40, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Laureth-12, Benzophenone-3, Titanium Dioxide, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polygonum Aviculare Extract, Melanin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Benzoic Acid
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters (HJE) are an emollient and skin-conditioning agent made by breaking down jojoba oil into a blend of fatty acids and fatty alcohols.
Jojoba is pretty cool because it's a liquid wax ester rather than a triglyceride like most plant oils. Its structure closely resembles the wax esters in human sebum so it slots nicely into the skin's own lipid layer.
In cosmetics, HJE works mainly to soften skin, reinforce the barrier, and lock in moisture by reducing water loss. This ingredient also holds onto the skin even after rinsing which is why you'll see it in cleansers or wipes.
There's a decent clinical backing for the moisturizing claims: a small controlled study found that pairing HJE with glycerin lowered transepidermal water loss significantly than glycerin alone (and this effect lasted up to 24 hours).
Follow-up work showed HJE appear to "trap" glycerin in the film they form on skin to boost its hydrating power.
Typical use levels are low: the glycering-synergy research used around 1.25% (a common pairing is roughly 1.25% HJE and 3.75% glycerin).
This ingredient has been found safe as used in cosmetics with low irritation risk.
As for fungal acne, the fatty acids and alcohols in jojoba fall in roughly the C18-24 range. This overlaps the C11-24 window that Malassezia yeast can feed on in lab studies, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Jojoba EstersPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum