What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Trehalose
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Dihydroxypropyl Arginine Hcl
HumectantOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Xylitol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Tapioca Starch
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantSalicylic Acid
Masking
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Gentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingMadecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Water, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycolic Acid, Gluconolactone, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Trehalose, Xylitylglucoside, Dihydroxypropyl Arginine Hcl, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Disodium EDTA, Anhydroxylitol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xylitol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Tapioca Starch, Phenoxyethanol, Tranexamic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Panthenol, Hyaluronic Acid, PEG-8, Salicylic Acid, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Propylene Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBetaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingWater, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine Salicylate, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Lactobionic Acid, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLactobionic Acid is a PHA. PHAs are the gentle cousins to AHAS.
Like AHAs, they exfoliate the top layer of skin. Lactobionic acid also exhibits significant antioxidant activity.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. This means they do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
By removing dead skin cells, PHAs leave the skin brighter and with even-texture.
Learn more about Lactobionic AcidPanthenol 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 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 GlycolPropanediol 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 Water
