What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Beheneth-20
EmulsifyingDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingLysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhytic Acid
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Squalane, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil, Glycerin, C15-19 Alkane, Propanediol, Behenic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glyceryl Stearate, Beheneth-20, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ferulic Acid, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Lecithin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Lysolecithin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Lysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate, Xanthan Gum, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Potassium Hydroxide, Phytic Acid, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Methylpropanediol
SolventTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Echinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingSodium DNA
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Propanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Retinol, Tromethamine, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Cholesterol, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Methylpropanediol, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Madecassoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Bakuchiol, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Sodium DNA, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
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 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 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 PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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 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
