What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Gellan Gum
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrifolium Pratense Extract
Skin ConditioningSprout Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Dextran
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentCitric Acid
Buffering
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dechloro Dihydroxy Difluoro Ethylcloprostenolamide
Phragmites Communis Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Octapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Extract
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phosphoric Acid
BufferingQuercus Serrata Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Swertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Disodium Phosphate, Biotin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cellulose Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Dechloro Dihydroxy Difluoro Ethylcloprostenolamide, Phragmites Communis Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Benzoate, Octapeptide-2, Dextran, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Panax Ginseng Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Phosphoric Acid, Quercus Serrata Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Swertia Japonica Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This biometic peptide is designed to support hair growth.
According to a manufacturer, it stimulates hair growth by:
The manufacturer has found combining this ingredient with red clover extract (Capixyl) boosted benefits. Not only does it enforce the scalp's extracellular matrix, it also inhibits the enzyme that creates DHT, a hormone that leads to hair loss.
While this ingredient is promising, more research is still needed to confirm its full effectiveness.
Learn more about Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3Butylene 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 GlycolDextran is a sugar (polysaccharide) with skin hydrating properties.
Fun fact: Louis Pasteur first discovered this ingredient as a microbial product in wine.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateThis extract comes from the flower more commonly known as red clover.
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
