What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCarbon
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sea Silt Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 PCA
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Flower Oil
PerfumingBoswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingXylitylglucoside
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAnhydroxylitol
HumectantDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlucose
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, 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
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
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 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 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 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