What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlumina
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMicrocitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningAmyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingEugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
MaskingJasminum Officinale Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Oxide
BufferingWater, Alumina, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Carbomer, Methyl Gluceth-20, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salicylic Acid, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hydroxide, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77491, Sodium Oxide
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingSilica
AbrasiveGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientPectin
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCarica Papaya Fruit
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Salicylic Acid
MaskingLactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialSorbic Acid
PreservativeCinnamal
PerfumingMel
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingEugenol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningBromelain
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil
MaskingAcetic Acid
BufferingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingAniba Rosaeodora Wood Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCI 75810
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Lactic Acid, Silica, Glycine Soja Oil, Pectin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carica Papaya Fruit, Ceteareth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Alcohol Denat., Sorbic Acid, Cinnamal, Mel, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Eugenol, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Linalool, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Beta-Carotene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Bromelain, Papain, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Acetic Acid, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, CI 75810
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil is the oil from the bergamot orange. It is native to Italy.
This ingredient is used to add fragrance to products. It contains limonene, linalool, and linalyl acetate.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
When used topically, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil is a photosensitizer due to its furanocoumarins. Photosensitizers make the skin and eyes much more sensitive to sunlight. Photosensitizers are linked to skin cancer.
However, more cosmetics using Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil are removing the furanocoumarins.
Bergamot oil was also found to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Learn more about Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit OilLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidWater. 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