What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamide Methyl Mea
Surfactant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Stearic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Oleic Acid, Lactic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
PEG-12 Allyl Ether
Sodium Citrate
Buffering3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Denatonium Benzoate
Masking
Octadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Niacinamide, Sodium PCA, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, PEG-12 Allyl Ether, Sodium Citrate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Parfum, Limonene, Dipropylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Benzoate, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzoic Acid, Denatonium Benzoate, Octadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Potassium 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 SorbatePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium 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 BenzoateTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
