What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Isopropyl Myristate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hydroxide, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAlcohol
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Sodium PCA
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMalva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrimula Veris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAlchemilla Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AstringentVeronica Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AstringentMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAchillea Millefolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningErythritol
HumectantCarrageenan
Citrus Paradisi Peel Extract
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion StabilisingBenzoic Acid
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbic Acid
PreservativeCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantWater, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium PCA, Caprylyl Glycol, Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Primula Veris Flower Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Veronica Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Achillea Millefolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Erythritol, Carrageenan, Citrus Paradisi Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbic Acid, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, BHT
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 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