What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC15-19 Alkane
SolventKojic Dipalmitate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningArbutin
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentEthoxydiglycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Punica Granatum Seed Cell Culture Lysate
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Arbutin, Propanediol, Tartaric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Metabisulfite, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Maltodextrin, Punica Granatum Seed Cell Culture Lysate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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
