What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEpilobium Fleischeri Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Acetyl Carnitine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCreatine
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Nicotinate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingYeast Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panicum Miliaceum Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropylcellulose
EmulsifyingSimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Farnesol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Geraniol
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Alcohol Denat., Water, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Epilobium Fleischeri Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Adenosine Phosphate, Arginine, Acetyl Carnitine Hcl, Creatine, Pyridoxine Hcl, Glucosamine Hcl, Caffeine, Tocopheryl Nicotinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Malt Extract, Yeast Extract, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Oil, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Simethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Farnesol, Eugenol, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Citral, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Callus Conditioned Media
Skin ConditioningCitrus Bergamia Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Sodium Phytate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Trifolium Pratense/Vigna Radiata) Sprout Extract
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Phytic Acid
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Pinene
Masking
Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-9
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-86
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caffeine, Curcuma Longa Callus Conditioned Media, Citrus Bergamia Peel Oil Expressed, Sodium Phytate, Pentylene Glycol, Limonene, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Lactic Acid, Trifolium Pratense/Vigna Radiata) Sprout Extract, Linalool, Sodium Hydroxide, Biotin, Alcohol, Phytic Acid, Linalyl Acetate, Pinene, Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-9, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-86
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Butylene 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 GlycolCaffeine is most associated with coffee, tea, and cacao. In skincare, it helps with calming inflammation and is rich in antioxidants.
While caffeine is used to treat cellulite and and dark circles, further studies are needed to prove this. It has been believed to help with these skin conditions due to its ability to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow.
Some studies are looking into caffeine's ability to protect against UV rays.
Learn more about CaffeineCitric 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 is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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 LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolSodium 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
