What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Paeonia Lactiflora Extract
AstringentCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantRaffinose
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Folic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Soluble Collagen, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Polyquaternium-51, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Raffinose, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Lecithin, Folic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Parfum, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Madecassoside, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Betaine, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caffeine, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA
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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 GlycerinTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
