What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Magnesium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningOnopordum Acanthium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCassia Alata Leaf Extract
AstringentLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Phragmites Karka Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract, Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Magnesium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Onopordum Acanthium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phragmites Karka Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Plankton Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDecyl Oleate
Emollient
Zea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides
EmollientLactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCocoglycerides
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Baicalin
Antioxidant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pantolactone
Humectant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Zea Mays Oil, Glycerin, Water, Octyldodecanol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Decyl Oleate, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides, Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract, Sorbitol, Propanediol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cocoglycerides, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Baicalin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pantolactone, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
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.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinLactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract is an antioxidant.
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate is a natural preservative. It comes from fermenting radish roots with a bacteria called leuconostoc. The trade name for this ingredient is Leucidal.
Leuconostoc comes from lactic acid.
This ingredient has antimicrobial properties and helps prevent the growth of bacteria in a product.
Leuconostoc is used to make the traditional Korean side-dish, kimchi. It is also used to make sourdough bread (both incredibly yummy foods).
Learn more about Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment FiltratePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
