What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Olivate
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sea Water
HumectantBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Asparagus Lucidus Root Extract
HumectantTussilago Farfara Flower Extract
AstringentLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Xylitol
Humectant
Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fructan
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Alanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Vinyldimethicone, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sea Water, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Xylitylglucoside, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Anhydroxylitol, Asparagus Lucidus Root Extract, Tussilago Farfara Flower Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Xylitol, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Fructan, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Glucose, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Asiatic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Citric Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Sodium Citrate, Beta-Glucan, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Madecassoside, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningErythritol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Polyglutamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ectoin, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Erythritol, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
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.
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 preservatives
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 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
