What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Aroma
Honey Extract
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Bee Venom
Astringent
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Limonene
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Trehalose, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Aroma, Honey Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethanolamine, Ethyl Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Propolis Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Bee Venom, Zea Mays Oil, Limonene, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingCholesteryl Isostearate
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Cholesteryl Chloride
Skin ConditioningCholesteryl Nonanoate
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Geranium Robertianum Extract
AstringentPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingThymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpinia Katsumadai Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Lecithin
Emollient
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PEG-35 Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Cholesteryl Isostearate, Potassium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Cholesteryl Chloride, Cholesteryl Nonanoate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Alpha-Arbutin, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Metabisulfite, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Citric Acid, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Geranium Robertianum Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Alpinia Katsumadai Seed Extract, Glutathione, Lecithin, Ferulic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Polysorbate 20, PEG-35 Castor Oil, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate
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 AcidDisodium 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
