What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glutathione
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingGluconic Acid
Chitosan
Pullulan
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningRumex Crispus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glutathione, Panthenol, Pvp, Gluconic Acid, Chitosan, Pullulan, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Metabisulfite, Xanthan Gum, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Beta-Glucan, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract, Rumex Crispus Root Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Betaine, Panthenol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Allantoin, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
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
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidButylene 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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
