What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeAlcohol
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningVinegar
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingAzadirachta Indica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Water
MaskingMelissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientPanax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-Crosspolymer
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPolylysine
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingPCA
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentButylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Myristyl Alcohol, Water, Steartrimonium Chloride, Alcohol, Parfum, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Yeast Extract, Beta-Glucan, Inulin, Maltodextrin, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Vinegar, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Caffeine, Biotin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract, PEG-Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Polylysine, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dextrin
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicThiamine Hcl
MaskingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantMenadione
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Fruit Extract
AntioxidantPiper Nigrum Seed Extract
RefreshingSalicylic Acid
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingMenthol
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentMentha Spicata Herb Oil
PerfumingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
Perfuming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Glycol
SolventAlcohol Denat., Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Water, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Caffeine, Panthenol, Biotin, Thiamine Hcl, Pyridoxine Hcl, Ascorbic Acid, Menadione, Riboflavin, Oryza Sativa Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Piper Nigrum Seed Extract, Salicylic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Menthol, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Mentha Spicata Herb Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Glycol
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Β
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesΒ
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.Bifida Ferment Lysate is a postbiotic ingredient made by fermenting Bifidobacterium to extract a nutrient-rich mix of peptides, amino acids, vitamins, organic acids, and polysaccharides.
These components are basically the building blocks that your skin already uses to stay hydrated, repair itself, and maintain its barrier. That's why this ingredient helps your skin hold onto moisture and stay resilient against irritation.
One in-vitro study found that this ingredient tells your skin cells to produce more of the proteins (filaggrin, loricrin, and involucrin) for building a strong and healthy barrier. This study also found this ingredient to be a solid antioxidant that helped neutralize damage against UV and pollution.
A study with people from 2010 found that sensitive, reactive skin using a cream with 10% of this ingredient for a month became noticeably less dry, less reactive, and harder to irritate compared to the group using a plain cream.
In short, this ingredient is a well-tolerated ingredient that can help with barrier repair, antioxidant protection, and calming reactive skin.
This ingredient is generally considered fungal acne (Malassezia) safe; Bifidobacterium is a bacterium, not a yeast or fungus.
The fungal acne concern with fermented ingredients mainly applies to yeast-derived ferments like Saccharomyces and Galactomyces, because those are in the same kingdom as Malassezia and could theoretically contain residual compounds that feed it.
Bifida is a completely different organism, so on its own it doesn't provide a food source for the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about Bifida Ferment LysateBiotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.
Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.
More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.
Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.
Learn more about BiotinCaffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeineEthylhexylglycerin 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 Ferment Lysate is a postbiotic with skin soothing properties. Postbiotics are inactive molecules produced by probiotic bacteria that provide skin benefits.
This ingredient comes from the secretion of the bacteria, Lactobacillus.
Studies show this ingredient can help calm redness and may help treat the signs of photoaging; however, the evidence is inconclusive and further studies are needed.
Lactobacillus Ferment is generally considered safe for fungal-acne prone skin. The key thing to understand is that it comes from bacteria, not yeast or fungus.
Yeast-derived ferments (like galactomyces) have been shown to activate a protein that's linked to Malassezia-related skin issues whereas lactobacillus doesn't have that problem.
Its byproducts also don't contain the types of fatty acids (C11-24 chain lengths) that Malassezia feeds on.
Learn more about Lactobacillus Ferment LysatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSalicylic 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, itβs 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterZingiber Officinale is more commonly known as ginger.
Ginger root has antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial properties.
The antioxidant properties help protect your body from free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. As a result, ginger may help slow down signs of aging such as hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.
Studies show ginger inhibits the enzyme that breaks down collagen. It also helps with:
This ingredient has no negative side-effects and is safe to use unless one has a specific allergy to it.
Ginger originates from Southeast Asia but has spread throughout the world. It is now a common spice used in many cultures.
Learn more about Zingiber Officinale Root Extract