What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCopaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Isosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panax Notoginseng Root Extract
HumectantTheobroma Cacao Leaf Cell Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Echinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingSophora Japonica Bud Extract
Skin ProtectingHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Tribehenin
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phytic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ethoxydiglycol, Diheptyl Succinate, Squalane, Niacinamide, Panax Notoginseng Root Extract, Theobroma Cacao Leaf Cell Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Sophora Japonica Bud Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Astaxanthin, Ergothioneine, Thioctic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Tribehenin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract
Antioxidant
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Xylitol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Panthenol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Micrococcus Lysate, Plankton Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Xylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lecithin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carnosine, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Ceramide EOP
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 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol 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 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
