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
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract
AntiseborrhoeicLactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Polygonum Aviculare Extract
EmollientTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Caprylyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Phytate
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Polygonum Aviculare Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract, Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Caprylyl Glucoside, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Alcohol
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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 FiltrateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate
