What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Triethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMadecassoside
AntioxidantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSorbitol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Royal Jelly Protein
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingJania Rubens Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenylpropanol
MaskingLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Ascorbic Acid
AntioxidantGold
Cosmetic ColorantHeptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Water, Alcohol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Saccharide Isomerate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Madecassoside, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Chlorphenesin, Sorbitol, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Royal Jelly Protein, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Carrageenan, Jania Rubens Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Phenylpropanol, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Ascorbic Acid, Gold, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Glutathione
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPodocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingAcacia Seyal Gum Extract
HumectantSr-Spider Polypeptide-1
Skin ProtectingPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingRaphanus Sativus Root Extract
AstringentCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCarrageenan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Formate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract, Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Sr-Spider Polypeptide-1, Pantothenic Acid, Phospholipids, Sodium Hydroxide, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Raphanus Sativus Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Potassium Sorbate, Propylene Glycol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carrageenan, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Formate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Reviews
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
Caprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 ChlorphenesinCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 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.
Propanediol 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum