What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
PEG-75
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Lauryl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHoney
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Linalool
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Jojoba Esters, PEG-75, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Cocos Nucifera Oil, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Lauryl Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Arachidyl Alcohol, Propanediol, C12-16 Alcohols, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Palmitic Acid, Arachidyl Glucoside, Honey, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Tromethamine, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Beta-Glucan, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Linalool, Tocopherol, Glucose, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tridecyl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Isodecyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
P-Anisic Acid
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Copper PCA
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
CI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butylene Glycol, Tridecyl Stearate, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Isodecyl Salicylate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, P-Anisic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Disodium EDTA, Copper PCA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, CI 40800, Citric Acid
Reviews
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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
