What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Leaf Extract
AstringentBisabolol
Antioxidant
Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Avena Sativa Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Gluconolactone, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Dimethiconol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Gluconate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Polyacrylate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Fructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Maltose
MaskingTrehalose
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingUrea
Buffering
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Stearic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium PCA, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Trehalose, Maltodextrin, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Sodium Lactate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Pentylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Urea, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Geraniol
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
