What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Niacinamide
SmoothingKojic Acid
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantGellan Gum
Agar
MaskingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycolic Acid
BufferingAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Bark Extract
AntimicrobialMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialResveratrol
AntioxidantAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Isododecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Alpha-Arbutin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Niacinamide, Kojic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Gellan Gum, Agar, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Glycolic Acid, Astaxanthin, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ubiquinone, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ferulic Acid, Resveratrol, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Glutathione, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Tocopherol
Avena Sativa Seed Water 77%
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant2,3-Butanediol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Squalane
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Surfactin
CleansingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Seed Water 77%, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 2,3-Butanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Squalane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Sodium Surfactin, Beta-Glucan
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
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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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