What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Caprae Lac
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Yogurt
Skin ProtectingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Iron Oxides
Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Wax, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Caprae Lac, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Lactic Acid, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Yogurt, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Palmitic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Caramel, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Myristic Acid, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Caprae Lac
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningSodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Carbonate
BufferingIron Oxides
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantDextrin
AbsorbentClitoria Ternatea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propanediol, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Acrylates Copolymer, Decyl Glucoside, Caprae Lac, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Lysine, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Benzoate, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Carbonate, Iron Oxides, CI 77492, Dextrin, Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract, Silica
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
We don't have a description for Caprae Lac yet.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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 WaterThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
