What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Volcanic Soil
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantKaolin
Abrasive
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Diglycerin
Humectant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Sodium Palmitate
CleansingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Mineral Salts
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rhamnose
HumectantJojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Surfactant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantMenthyl Lactate
Masking
CI 45380
Cosmetic ColorantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aroma
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Volcanic Soil, Mica, Kaolin, Niacinamide, Diglycerin, Arbutin, Sodium Palmitate, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Mineral Salts, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rhamnose, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, CI 77491, CI 77492, Menthyl Lactate, CI 45380, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Aroma, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide
Water
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTrideceth-10
CleansingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPlumeria Obtusa Leaf Cell Extract
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
AstringentSodium Benzoate
Masking
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Prunus Yedoensis Flower Extract
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentAgastache Rugosa Extract
Antimicrobial
4-Terpineol
Masking
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Trideceth-10, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract, Plumeria Obtusa Leaf Cell Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Propanediol, Prunus Yedoensis Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Bioflavonoids, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Agastache Rugosa Extract, 4-Terpineol, Papain, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate
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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
