What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid 8%
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentSalicylic Acid
MaskingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
AntioxidantBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantMalpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCapsicum Annuum Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingLecithin
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycolic Acid 8%, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Salicylic Acid, Gluconolactone, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Juice, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Phytosterols, Squalane, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Caprylyl Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantVolcanic Ash
AbrasiveCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Bentonite
AbsorbentKaolin
AbrasiveGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPvp
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
Polysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingJuglans Regia Shell Powder
AbrasiveSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentPolyacrylate-13
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantMannitol
HumectantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMenthoxypropanediol
MaskingTetrasodium Pyrophosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-10
Lecithin
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, CI 77891, Silica, Glycerin, Trehalose, Volcanic Ash, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Bentonite, Kaolin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pvp, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, CI 77499, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Xanthan Gum, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Sorbitan Stearate, Zea Mays Starch, Polyacrylate-13, Polysorbate 20, CI 77492, Mannitol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Metaphosphate, Lactic Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyisobutene, CI 77491, Menthoxypropanediol, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polyquaternium-10, Lecithin, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.
This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.
As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.
This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Some other names for this ingredient include soy lecithin and deoiled soy lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinWater. 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. 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