What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
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
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium DNA
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
PEG-9 Diglycidyl Ether/Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantOnsen-Sui
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingPlumeria Alba Flower Oil
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Candida/Garcinia Cambogia Ferment
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Disodium EDTA
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningIsomalt
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium DNA, Hexapeptide-9, Tripeptide-1, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, PEG-9 Diglycidyl Ether/Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Onsen-Sui, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Caffeine, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Plumeria Alba Flower Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Candida/Garcinia Cambogia Ferment, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Levulinic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Allantoin, Adenosine, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Citrate, Polyquaternium-51, Citric Acid, Ethyl Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Isomalt, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Benzoate
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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPentylene 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 PhenoxyethanolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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
