What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Copaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCarapa Guaianensis Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingFusanus Spicatus Wood Oil
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Farnesol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate, Silica, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Jojoba Esters, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Glycine, Polysorbate 20, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Xanthan Gum, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Bisabolol, Benzoic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Cellulose Gum, Fusanus Spicatus Wood Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Polyglycerin-3, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Farnesol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Linalool, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialEpilobium Fleischeri Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Epilobium Fleischeri Extract, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arachidyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol made from the the arachidic acid found in peanut oil.
Despite having "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethanol.
This ingredient is a multitasker:
Just be sure to patch this ingredient if you have a peanut allergy (though this ingredient is highly processed and the allergenic proteins are typically removed).
Learn more about Arachidyl AlcoholThis ingredient is a plant-based surfactant and emulsifier. It helps oil and water based ingredients mix evenly to improve formula stability without adding a "greasy" feel.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl 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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateWater. 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
