What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingSuperoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dextran
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Alanyl Glutamine
HumectantArginine
Masking
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Lysine
Skin ConditioningOleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Phenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin ConditioningScenedesmus Rubescens Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Betula Alba Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Oligopeptide-177
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Sodium Carbomer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Lecithin, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ceramide NP, Glycine Soja Protein, Superoxide Dismutase, Citric Acid, Dextran, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Alanyl Glutamine, Arginine, Ceramide Ng, Glycine, Lysine, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Phenylalanine, Proline, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Betula Alba Oil, Disodium EDTA, Oligopeptide-177, Sodium Ascorbate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingRutin
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Cyclotetrapeptide-24 Aminocyclohexane Carboxylate
Antioxidant
Phaseolus Lunatus Seed Extract
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol, Ectoin, Lecithin, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Rutin, Dipotassium Phosphate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Cyclotetrapeptide-24 Aminocyclohexane Carboxylate, Phaseolus Lunatus Seed Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is usually an astringent alcohol.
These alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
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.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Fatty alcohols come from plant oils such as coconut oil. These can help hydrate the skin and are non-irritating. Some fatty alcohols include cetyl and stearyl alcohol.
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 GlycolCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.
This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.
As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.
This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Some other names for this ingredient include soy lecithin and deoiled soy lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
