What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium PCA
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium EDTA
Denatonium Benzoate
Masking
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Genipa Americana Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium PCA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Allantoin, Gluconolactone, Glycolic Acid, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Denatonium Benzoate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Genipa Americana Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Gluconolactone 3%
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide 3%
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering
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.
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 preservatives
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactonePotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
