What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Nopalea Cochenillifera Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C15-19 Alkane
SolventStearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualene
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Water, Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hyaluronic Acid, Xylitol, Glucose, Anhydroxylitol, Nopalea Cochenillifera Extract, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, C15-19 Alkane, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Palmitate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Carbomer, Squalene, Trehalose, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Sodium Hydroxide, Xylitylglucoside, Disodium EDTA, Ceramide Ng, Glycine Soja Sterols
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Magnesium Silicate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Water, Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 20, Allantoin, Retinol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Zinc PCA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
