What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMalic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentCeteareth-25
CleansingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG-8
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Malic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Mandelic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Gluconolactone, Betaine, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycolic Acid, Glyceryl Glucoside, Lactobionic Acid, Lactic Acid, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Cyclodextrin, Ceteareth-25, CI 42090, Centella Asiatica Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ceramide NP, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Carnosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-8, Alpha-Arbutin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Tranexamic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Nonapeptide-1, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, CI 16035, CI 77266
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 PanthenolPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
