What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Abelmoschus Extract
MaskingArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Limonene
PerfumingWater, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract, Arginine, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Disodium EDTA, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningMalachite Extract
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Trehalose, Allantoin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Saccharide Isomerate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Malachite Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 EthylhexylglycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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