What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingTrehalose
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberDisodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingHydrolyzed Algin
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPhragmites Karka Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Salicylic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Trehalose, Pentylene Glycol, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Hydrolyzed Algin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Phragmites Karka Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Zinc Sulfate, CI 19140, CI 17200, 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.
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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
