What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Alanine
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHistidine
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
PCA
Humectant
Valine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Polydextrose
HumectantPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Isopropyl Cloprostenate
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Threonine
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Panthenol, Sodium Citrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Alanine, Alcohol, Arbutin, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Biotin, Calcium Gluconate, Caprylyl Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gluconolactone, Glycine, Hexylene Glycol, Histidine, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Isoleucine, Sodium Lactate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, PCA, Valine, Phenylalanine, Polydextrose, Polysorbate 20, Proline, Propylene Glycol, Serine, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isopropyl Cloprostenate, Yeast Extract, Sodium PCA, Threonine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Metabisulfite
Reviews
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 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 AlcoholBiotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.
Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.
More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.
Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.
Learn more about BiotinCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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
