What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCopaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingIsosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPanax Notoginseng Root Extract
HumectantTheobroma Cacao Leaf Cell Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialEchinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingSophora Japonica Bud Extract
Skin ProtectingHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningErgothioneine
AntioxidantThioctic Acid
AntioxidantSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientTribehenin
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingPhytic 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
AstringentPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingArabidopsis Thaliana Extract
AntioxidantMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialXylitol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantSilybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, 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 (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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