What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCysteamine Hcl
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyacrylate-13
Arachidyl Alcohol
EmollientRetinal
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientMannitol
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Propylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTriethylene Glycol
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Propanediol, Cysteamine Hcl, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate-13, Arachidyl Alcohol, Retinal, Madecassoside, Allantoin, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyisobutene, Phosphatidylcholine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Mannitol, Bisabolol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Chlorphenesin, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Triethylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lecithin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHoney
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyacrylamide
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingViola Tricolor Extract
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningSargassum Fulvellum Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBrassica Campestris Flower Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
AstringentCosmos Sulphureus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Kobus Flower Extract
AntioxidantNarcissus Pseudo-Narcissus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDextran
Sodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantTrifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Honey, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Ferulic Acid, Panthenol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Viola Tricolor Extract, Laureth-7, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Sargassum Fulvellum Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Brassica Campestris Flower Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Cosmos Sulphureus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Magnolia Kobus Flower Extract, Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus Flower Extract, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract, Retinol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dextran, Sodium Metabisulfite, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
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
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 GlycolChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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