What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCellulose
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycol Distearate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingLactobacillus/Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSolanum Tuberosum Pulp Extract
SmoothingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPeucedanum Graveolens Extract
TonicDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Cellulose, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycol Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Lactobacillus/Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Ferment Filtrate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Solanum Tuberosum Pulp Extract, Caramel, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Peucedanum Graveolens Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Caffeine, Glucose, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasivePropanediol
SolventKaolin
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantDiatomaceous Earth
Abrasive1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Seed Extract
HumectantBetaine
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cellulose
AbsorbentCharcoal Powder
AbrasiveCalamine
AbsorbentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthylcellulose
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentLauric Acid
CleansingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMannitol
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingWater, Silica, Propanediol, Kaolin, Glycerin, Diatomaceous Earth, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Betaine, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Titanium Dioxide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cellulose, Charcoal Powder, Calamine, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethylcellulose, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Lauric Acid, Zea Mays Starch, Aluminum Hydroxide, Mannitol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Salicylic 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.
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 high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCellulose is the main component of plant cell walls. It is used as an emulsifier, absorbent, and texture enhancer.
This ingredient has many functions:
Fun fact: Cellulose is the most abundant form of organic polymer on Earth.
Learn more about CelluloseEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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