What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Emiliania Huxleyi Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Sea Water
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octanediol
Water, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Madecassoside, Emiliania Huxleyi Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sea Water, Saccharide Isomerate, Copper Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Magnesium Aspartate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Octanediol
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Oleth-10
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Dianthus Chinensis Extract
HumectantPaeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil
Masking
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Water, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Oleth-10, Cetearyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Pyrus Malus Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Dianthus Chinensis Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone
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 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
