What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSodium Stearate
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantPropylene Glycol, Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-150 Distearate, Lecithin, Sodium Chloride, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sea Water, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Cocos Nucifera Water, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, CI 42090, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropylcocoate PEG-8 Dimethicone
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Isododecane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Stearalkonium Bentonite
Gel FormingPolyglyceryl-3 Oleate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Propylene Carbonate
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Hydroxypropylcocoate PEG-8 Dimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Isododecane, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cocos Nucifera Water, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Allantoin, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycine Soja Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 Water
