What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Glycerin
HumectantDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeteareth-20
CleansingNylon-6/12
AbsorbentOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCarnosine
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasivePEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Triethanolamine
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Glycerin, Diisopropyl Adipate, Mica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Methicone, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ceteareth-20, Nylon-6/12, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Polysorbate 60, Saccharide Isomerate, Squalane, Carnosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Silica, PEG-40 Stearate, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Triethanolamine, Lactic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Citrate, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Homosalate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingColloidal Oatmeal
AbsorbentCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclotetrasiloxane
EmollientDaucus Carota Sativa Extract
PerfumingFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrogenated Methyl Abietate
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTerminalia Ferdinandiana Seed Oil
AntioxidantThymus Vulgaris Extract
PerfumingHomosalate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Zinc Oxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Amodimethicone, Water, Butylene Glycol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Ceramide Ng, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Colloidal Oatmeal, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Ferulic Acid, Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Methyl Abietate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Polysorbate 20, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Seed Oil, Thymus Vulgaris Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateWater. 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