What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Ricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Cocoate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Laurate
Emollient
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Polyglyceryl-6 Ricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Cocoate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Panthenol, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Beta-Glucan, Sucrose Laurate, Glycine, Serine, Arginine, Histidine, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lysolecithin, Propanediol, Tocopherol, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingIsopentyldiol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Mannitol
Humectant
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sh-Decapeptide-5 Sp
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Water, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Isopentyldiol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Dextrin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Malt Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Maltodextrin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Mannitol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sh-Decapeptide-5 Sp, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-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.
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 preservatives
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 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 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 PanthenolWater. 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
