What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPvp
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingDimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Oleate
EmulsifyingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract
HumectantNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningMentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
TonicCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialThymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
AntioxidantAmp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Vinyldimethicone
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Ceteareth-20
CleansingLecithin
EmollientSteareth-100
Gel FormingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingWater, Pvp, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Octyldodeceth-16, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, C12-14 Alketh-12, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Amp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Vinyldimethicone, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Ceteareth-20, Lecithin, Steareth-100, Hexylene Glycol
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantOctylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingTromethamine
BufferingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingVp/Methacrylamide/Vinyl Imidazole Copolymer
Menthol
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningOctanediol
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSilk Amino Acids
HumectantHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAlcohol Denat., Water, Butylene Glycol, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Tromethamine, Aminomethyl Propanol, Vp/Methacrylamide/Vinyl Imidazole Copolymer, Menthol, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Pentylene Glycol, Octanediol, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Biotin, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Silk Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Tocopherol
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 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 GlycerinPeg-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 OilTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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