What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Silica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTapioca Starch
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Betaine
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningSoy Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Carbonate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Colloidal Silver
AntimicrobialLimonene
Perfuming
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water, Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Alcohol, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tapioca Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactic Acid, Betaine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Yeast Extract, Soy Amino Acids, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Carbonate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Colloidal Silver, Limonene
Prunus Avium Fruit
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTartaric Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Wine Extract
Antioxidant
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Parfum
Masking
Malic Acid
Buffering
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentPrunus Serotina Bark Extract
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Lycopene
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Prunus Avium Fruit, Glycerin, Water, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Tartaric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Wine Extract, Bromelain, Mandelic Acid, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Parfum, Malic Acid, Punica Granatum Extract, Prunus Serotina Bark Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Lycopene, Alcohol, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, T-Butyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.
It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.
This ingredient is also known as Sepimax Zen.
Learn more about Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideT-Butyl Alcohol it is most commonly used as a solvent.
At room temperature, T-Butyl Alcohol melts and has a similar smell to camphor.
This ingredient is derived from isobutane. It is the simplest form of a tertiary alcohol. Due to its chemical structure, it is more resistant to oxidation.
Some sources online claim T-Butyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. However, it is not considered one due to its chemical structure.
Learn more about T-Butyl AlcoholTartaric acid is an AHA with exfoliating and antioxidant properties. It is found in many fruits, such as tamarind, grapes, bananas, and avocados.
AHAs provide chemical exfoliation, helping to improve skin tone and texture.
Tartaric acid is not as well studied as other AHAs, such as glycolic acid.
Learn more about Tartaric AcidWater. 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
