What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid 20%
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventGlutathione
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract Ferment Filtrate
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Water, Ascorbic Acid 20%, Alcohol, Niacinamide, Sodium Lactate, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glucose, Butylene Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Glutathione, Cyanocobalamin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Panthenol, Lactobacillus/Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventCentella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Castanea Sativa Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Conalbumin
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPolyvinyl Alcohol
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDextrin
AbsorbentAcrylates Copolymer
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Vp/Polycarbamyl Polyglycol Ester
Hydrolyzed Sesame Protein Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Glycol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRaspberry Ketone
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Castanea Sativa Shell Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Hydrolyzed Conalbumin, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Lactic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dextrin, Acrylates Copolymer, T-Butyl Alcohol, Vp/Polycarbamyl Polyglycol Ester, Hydrolyzed Sesame Protein Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol, Adenosine, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Hydroxyacetophenone, Parfum
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
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholButylene 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 GlycolWe don't have a description for Diethoxyethyl Succinate yet.
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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePeg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil comes from hydrogenated castor oil. It is a solubilizer and emulsifier.
As a solubilizer, it helps dissolve ingredients into a water-based version. It is also an emulsifer. Emulsifier help prevent oils and water from separating. Both these properties help create evenly-spread and uniform products.
Basically, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil helps hold ingredients together.
Learn more about PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor OilWater. 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
