What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Inositol
Humectant
Calcium Pantothenate
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
PEG-35 Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Water, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Betaine, Cyclopentasiloxane, Behenyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Inositol, Calcium Pantothenate, Linoleic Acid, Biotin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Lauroyl Lysine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Arachidyl Glucoside, Alcohol Denat., PEG-35 Castor Oil, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Mentha Aquatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sorbitol
Humectant
Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex
Antioxidant
Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Urea, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Mentha Aquatica Leaf Extract, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Boron Nitride, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Mica, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Lactic Acid, Serine, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitol, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Allantoin, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77891
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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
