What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Potassium Methoxysalicylate
BleachingGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Alanine
Masking
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantXylitol
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingErythritol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Potassium Methoxysalicylate, Glutamic Acid, Alanine, Methionine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Soluble Collagen, Glycerin, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, PEG-8, Xylitol, Diglycerin, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Carbomer, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Erythritol, Disodium EDTA, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Potassium Methoxysalicylate
BleachingTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Xylitol
Humectant
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingRosa Multiflora Fruit Extract
MaskingSilica
Abrasive
Serine
Masking
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialPyrola Incarnata Extract
Skin ConditioningPotentilla Erecta Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Glycerin
Humectant
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isodecyl Acrylate
Sodium N-Isostearoyl Methyltaurate
CleansingTetradecane
Perfuming
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPetrolatum
Emollient
Maltitol
HumectantPEG-100
HumectantHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Beheneth-30
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
BHT
Antioxidant
Menthol
Masking
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Methoxysalicylate, Tranexamic Acid, Xylitol, Lauryl Betaine, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Silica, Serine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Pyrola Incarnata Extract, Potentilla Erecta Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Glucosamine Hcl, Glycerin, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Isodecyl Acrylate, Sodium N-Isostearoyl Methyltaurate, Tetradecane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Petrolatum, Maltitol, PEG-100, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Myristyl Myristate, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Beheneth-30, Butylene Glycol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, BHT, Menthol, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Alcohol, Sodium Metabisulfite, 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 derived from vitamin C.
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 AlcoholButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideWe don't have a description for Potassium Methoxysalicylate yet.
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXylitol is a humectant and prebiotic. It can help with dry skin.
In studies, xylitol has been shown to improve dry skin. It decreased transepidermal water loss, or when water passes through the skin and evaporates. Xylitol also showed to help improve the biomechanical properties of the skin barrier.
The prebiotic property of xylitol may also help reinforce our skin's natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome prevents infection by bad bacteria and helps with hydration.
As a humectant, Xylitol helps draw moisture from both the air and from deeper skin layers. This helps keep skin hydrated.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and commonly used as a sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring in plants such as strawberries and pumpkin.
Learn more about Xylitol
