What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientTribehenin PEG-20 Esters
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Saccharide Isomerate
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLecithin
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Sodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
AntioxidantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
EmollientFusanus Spicatus Wood Oil
MaskingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
HumectantNarcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
AstringentJuniperus Communis Fruit Oil
MaskingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingFarnesol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Saccharide Isomerate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Benzyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Silica, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Gluconate, Lauroyl Lysine, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Maltodextrin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Tocopherol, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Fusanus Spicatus Wood Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Polyglycerin-3, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Linalool, Farnesol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOleyl Erucate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOctyldodecanol
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Oleyl Erucate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Coco-Caprylate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Levulinate, Benzyl Alcohol, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene
Reviews
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.
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 preservatives
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene 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 LimoneneTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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