What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Pearl Extract
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Coptis Chinensis Root Extract
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantRosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Diamond Powder
Abrasive
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Pearl Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycerin, Arginine, Carbomer, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Diamond Powder, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCarbon
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sea Silt Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 PCA
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Flower Oil
Perfuming
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hexylene Glycol, Carbon, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Sea Silt Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyglyceryl-3 PCA, Citrus Aurantium Flower Oil, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Anhydroxylitol, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Xylitol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glucose, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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 GlycolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateDipropylene 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePolyglyceryl-10 Myristate is a nonionic emulsifier and skin conditioner made from Polyglycerin-10 and Myristic Acid.
As a skin conditioning agent, this ingredient leaves skin feeling soft without a greasy finish. As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions.
You'll likely see this ingredient in "clean" formulations because it's considered a natural alternative to PEGs.
Patch testing at concentration 0.1-1% showed no reactions and this ingredient is considered to be well-tolerated across skin types.
Due to its myristic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 MyristateWater. 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
