What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenylpropanol
Masking
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Maris Aqua
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Emiliania Huxleyi Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Gluconolactone, Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract, Triethanolamine, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Sodium Citrate, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Madecassoside, Maris Aqua, Citric Acid, Propanediol, Emiliania Huxleyi Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Water, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Zinc Sulfate, 1,2-Hexanediol
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 EthylhexylglycerinWe don't have a description for Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide yet.
Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate comes from Capric Acid and Polyglycerin-4. It is an emulsifier.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. They do this by preventing ingredients from separating, such as oils and water which do not mix naturally.
Triethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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
