What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventIsohexadecane
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Glucose
Humectant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Fructose
Humectant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Glycine
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Glutamate
MaskingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Squalane
Emollient
Malic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Lysine
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Butylparaben
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Isohexadecane, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Trehalose, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Urea, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Lecithin, Papain, Retinol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glucose, Glycine Soja Oil, Sorbitol, Polysorbate 20, Fructose, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Maltodextrin, Glycine, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Glutamate, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalane, Malic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Lysine, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Methylparaben is a synthetic preservative and one of the most widely used in the world. It has a simple, but important job: prevent your products from going bad by stopping bacteria, yeast, and mold from growing.
Typical use levels are low, often 0.1-0.3%.
This is also one of the most heavily studied preservatives out there and major regulatory bodies have repeatedly given it the green light.
In 2023, the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) confirmed that this ingredient is safe up to 0.4% on its own, of up to 0.8% when mixed with other paraben esters.
Here's the science behind the noise behind parabens/hormones as well:
Methylparaben shows very weak estrogen-like activity in vitro tests (more than 1,000x weaker than your body's own estradiol). In vivo (live-organism) studies don't support a meaningful endocrine-disrupting effect either.
You get a stronger estrogenic effect from eating tofu, actually.
It's also a low sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon; they usually happen on damage or broken skin.
There is a caveat: France has proposed to formally re-examine its endocrine classification in 2025 so the regulatory conversation isn't fully closed as of yet.
But as it stands today, this ingredient is considered safe at permitted levels.
Learn more about MethylparabenSodium 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
