What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDextran
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
HumectantYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingPCA
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHistidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantTriethanolamine
BufferingWater, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Butylene Glycol, Dextran, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Glycerin, Panthenol, Sodium Citrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Polysorbate 20, Gluconolactone, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propylene Glycol, Yeast Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Triethanolamine
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCannabis Sativa Seed Extract
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPapaver Somniferum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingMyristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningNicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-9
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-86
Citric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Papaver Somniferum Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Sodium Hydroxide, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Benzoic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-9, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-86, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzoic Acid is used to preserve and adjust the pH of products.
The antimicrobial property of Benzoic Acid helps elongate a product's shelf life. Its main role is to reduce fungi growth and is not found to be effective at fighting bacteria. Therefore Benzoic Acid is always added along with other preservatives.
In its pure form, Benzoic Acid looks like a white crystalline solid. It has slight solubility in water.
The name of Benzoic Acid comes from gum benzoin, which used to be the sole source of deriving this ingredient. Benzoic Acid is the most simple aromatic carboxylic acid.
Benzoic Acid is naturally occuring in strawberries, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. It has a slight scent but is not considered to be a fragrance.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseMyristoyl Pentapeptide-17 isn't fungal acne safe and is a peptide.
Panthenol 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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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