What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientTris-Biphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethyl Caprylate
Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Canola Oil
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Squalane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Olivoyl Glutamate
CleansingSorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dibutyl Adipate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Glycerin, Phenoxyethyl Caprylate, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Canola Oil, Silica, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Trehalose, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Olivoyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Caprylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Decyl Glucoside, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, 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.
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
