What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentIsododecane
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveAlcohol
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Niacinamide
SmoothingSqualane
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveWater, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Isododecane, Alcohol Denat., Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Caprylyl Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Glycerin, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Squalane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMethylpropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAphloia Theiformis Leaf Extract
AstringentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeIsohexadecane
EmollientCeteareth-33
CleansingParfum
MaskingBehenic Acid
CleansingSalicylic Acid
MaskingZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasivePolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Ledum Groenlandicum Extract
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methylpropanediol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Aphloia Theiformis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Isohexadecane, Ceteareth-33, Parfum, Behenic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Zinc Gluconate, Silica, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Oleate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ledum Groenlandicum Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Acacia Senegal Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is usually an astringent alcohol.
These alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
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.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Fatty alcohols come from plant oils such as coconut oil. These can help hydrate the skin and are non-irritating. Some fatty alcohols include cetyl and stearyl alcohol.
Learn more about AlcoholAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHamamelis Virginiana Water is made by distilling parts of the witch hazel plant. You can also call this ingredient "witch hazel water".
The name 'Hamamelis Virginiana Water' refers to the distillation product used in cosmetics. On the other hand, 'Witch Hazel' refers to the active drug ingredient.
Unless it is specified to be non-alcohol, many types of witch hazel ingredients are distilled in denatured alcohol.
Witch Hazel water is an astringent, anti-inflammatory antioxidant, and antibacterial ingredient.
It contains tannins. Tannins have a drying effect when used on skin by constricting proteins. The constriction also minimizes the appearance of pores.
Both the tannins and fragrance found in witch hazel may be skin-sensitizing.
Witch hazel water gets anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties from its catechin and gallic acid content.
Indigenous groups have used witch hazel to help treat inflammation in North America for centuries.
Learn more about Hamamelis Virginiana WaterPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water