What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCellulose
Absorbent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingProtease
Exfoliating
Disodium EDTA
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Xylitol
Humectant
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicNicotinoyl Dipeptide-23
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningRaphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Napus Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningEryngium Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cellulose, Butylene Glycol, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trehalose, Tromethamine, Protease, Disodium EDTA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Xylitol, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Glycerin, Glucose, Gluconolactone, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-23, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Brassica Napus Extract, Arginine, Tropolone, Eryngium Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningCellulose
Absorbent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Gardenia Taitensis Callus Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Rose Flower Oil
Masking
Water, Cellulose, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pyrus Malus Flower Extract, Ceramide Ns, Zea Mays Starch, Gluconolactone, Gold, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Gardenia Taitensis Callus Extract, Sodium Carbomer, Maltodextrin, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Rose Flower Oil
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 GlycolCellulose is the main component of plant cell walls. It is used as an emulsifier, absorbent, and texture enhancer.
This ingredient has many functions:
Fun fact: Cellulose is the most abundant form of organic polymer on Earth.
Learn more about CelluloseEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
