What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Squalane
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Verbascum Thapsus Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Euphrasia Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialIndigofera Tinctoria Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMahonia Aquifolium Root Extract
AstringentCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helichrysum Angustifolium Flower Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Stearate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingPhytic Acid
Pullulan
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Lactic Acid, Squalane, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Beeswax, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Glycolic Acid, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Ascorbic Acid, Ubiquinone, Royal Jelly Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Propolis Extract, Verbascum Thapsus Extract, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Euphrasia Officinalis Extract, Indigofera Tinctoria Leaf Extract, Mahonia Aquifolium Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Helichrysum Angustifolium Flower Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Potassium Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Carbomer, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Lecithin, Lysolecithin, Phytic Acid, Pullulan, Sclerotium Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Argilla
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Glaucine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Myristyl Myristate, Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica Silylate, Pentylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Palmitic Acid, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Coco-Glucoside, Argilla, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol, BHT, Sodium Citrate, Myristic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Glaucine, Citric Acid, Linalool, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Magnesium Chloride, Tocopherol, Propyl Gallate, Biotin, Ceramide AP
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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
