What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate-13
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingParfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientJuglans Regia Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Polyisobutene
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Glucose
Humectant
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Trehalose, C14-22 Alcohols, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Polyacrylate-13, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, C12-16 Alcohols, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Juglans Regia Seed Extract, Limonene, Polyisobutene, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Morus Alba Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Honey, Linalool, Polysorbate 20, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Propanediol, Citronellol, Citral, Geraniol, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Glucose, Benzyl Benzoate, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Tocopherol, Punica Granatum Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventSorbitol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Gossypium Herbaceum Fruit Water
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingZea Mays Kernel Extract
Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hibiscus Syriacus Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Fructan
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Methylpropanediol, Sorbitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Gossypium Herbaceum Fruit Water, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Malt Extract, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hibiscus Syriacus Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fructan, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Glucose, Sodium Citrate, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Phosphate, Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Reviews
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolWater. 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
