What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Montmorillonite
AbsorbentLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPorphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentZinc PCA
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Polyquaternium-7
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Behenic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Montmorillonite, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Zinc PCA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Glycol Distearate, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-7, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Coco-Sulfate
Cleansing
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Lactoperoxidase
StabilisingSodium PCA
Humectant
Glucose Oxidase
StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPolyquaternium-7
Glucose
Humectant
Myristamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Disodium EDTA
Tetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
CI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sucrose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Lactoperoxidase, Sodium PCA, Glucose Oxidase, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Phosphate, Polyquaternium-7, Glucose, Myristamidopropyl Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Linalool, Disodium EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, CI 77289
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolThis extract comes from cucumber. Cucumbers are mostly made up of water (95%), and the other 5% is composed of: vitamin C, caffeic acid, fatty acids, amino acids, and other minerals.
Cucumbers have anti-inflammatory, barrier repair, and hydrating properties.
They contain shikimate dehydrigenase, an enzyme shown to help reduce inflammation and soothe the skin.
The amino acids found in cucumbers help nourish our skin's natural acid mantle (it's an important part of our skin barrier). This slightly acidic film acts as a barrier to protect us from bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants.
Unless you have an allergy to cucumbers, this is generally a non-irritating ingredient.
Fun fact: Cucumis Sativus is native to South Asia and can now be found on every continent.
Learn more about Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractDisodium 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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Laminaria Saccharina Extract yet.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Polyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
Potassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSodium 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 BenzoateSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
