What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Mannitol
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose
Absorbent
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Menthone Glycerin Acetal
Refreshing
Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Glycerin
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract
MaskingCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Mannitol, Alcohol Denat., Xanthan Gum, Cellulose, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Glycolic Acid, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, CI 77007, CI 77891, CI 77120
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Solum Diatomeae
Abrasive
Hectorite
AbsorbentAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium Pyrophosphate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Paullinia Cupana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil
Astringent
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Kaolin, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Solum Diatomeae, Hectorite, Alcohol Denat., Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, CI 77491, Cellulose Gum, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Xanthan Gum, Salicylic Acid, Paullinia Cupana Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
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.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
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 this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
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.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene 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 GlycerinLavandula 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 OilSalicylic 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 AcidSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
