What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventVinyldimethicone
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetearyl Olivate
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Castanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Extract
HumectantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, Vinyldimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Synthetic Beeswax, Cetearyl Olivate, Glycereth-26, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Allantoin, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Adenosine, Ceramide NP, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Phytosphingosine, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Fructose
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Tromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Escin
TonicEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Harungana Madagascariensis Extract
Skin ConditioningKalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract
MaskingMarrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Balanites Roxburghii Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningEngelhardtia Chrysolepis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantLapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Fructose, Carbomer, Hexylresorcinol, Parfum, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Escin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Harungana Madagascariensis Extract, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Citric Acid, Balanites Roxburghii Seed Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Engelhardtia Chrysolepis Leaf Extract, CI 14700, Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Maris Sal, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Dextran
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
