What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Colloidal Sulfur
AntimicrobialChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicHyacinthus Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Disodium EDTA
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Seed Extract
Masking
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Water
Masking
Borago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPulsatilla Koreana Extract
Skin ConditioningUsnea Barbata Extract
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Ovalicin
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Water, Methyl Gluceth-20, Alcohol Denat., 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Glycerin, Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Allantoin, Colloidal Sulfur, Chlorphenesin, Adenosine, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Salicylic Acid, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Citrus Paradisi Seed Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Lavandula Angustifolia Water, Borago Officinalis Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Ovalicin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Colloidal Sulfur
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ovalicin
AntimicrobialWater, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Betaine, Colloidal Sulfur, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ovalicin
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 Colloidal Sulfur yet.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Ovalicin yet.
Water. 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
