What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Heptyl Glucoside
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cocos Nucifera Liquid Endosperm
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingSodium Phytate
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Heptyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Cocos Nucifera Liquid Endosperm, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Chlorphenesin, Glycerin, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Sodium Phytate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Sulfite
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
