What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Lactic Acid
BufferingOrmenis Multicaulis Oil
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingCarum Petroselinum Seed Oil
MaskingBenzoic Acid
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-150 Distearate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Lactate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitol, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Lactic Acid, Ormenis Multicaulis Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Carum Petroselinum Seed Oil, Benzoic Acid, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientZea Mays Germ Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlyceryl Linoleate
EmollientPolyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
Dimethiconol
EmollientGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientParfum
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberMenthol
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLaureth-7
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Glyceryl Linolenate
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Juice
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitral
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclohexasiloxane, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Panthenol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Linoleate, Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether, Polyacrylamide, Dimethiconol, Glyceryl Oleate, Carbomer, Cetyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Parfum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycine Soja Oil, Caffeine, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Benzophenone-4, Menthol, Limonene, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Laureth-7, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Linolenate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Juice, Linalool, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Citral, Potassium Sorbate, CI 42090, CI 14700
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPanthenol 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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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