What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingLepidium Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingWater, Propylene Glycol, Betaine, Niacinamide, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Alpha-Arbutin, Panthenol, Glycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingArbutin
AntioxidantStearic Acid
CleansingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientKojic Dipalmitate
EmollientMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberSteareth-2
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberTriethanolamine
BufferingTitanium Hydroxide
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Arbutin, Stearic Acid, Cyclopentasiloxane, Kojic Dipalmitate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Steareth-2, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzophenone-4, Triethanolamine, Titanium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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