What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Cannabidiol - Synthetically Produced
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion Stabilising
Tetrasodium EDTA
Xylitol
Humectant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlucose
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Cannabidiol - Synthetically Produced, Caprylyl Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Xylitol, Disodium Phosphate, Glucose, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phosphate, CI 19140, CI 61570
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Viola Tricolor Extract
EmollientTilia Cordata Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Water, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Viola Tricolor Extract, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Propanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phosphate, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Propylene Glycol, Benzoic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium Phosphate is a water-soluble powder used as a pH adjuster and mild chelating agent. It basically holds a specific pH and binds stray metal ions so your product stays stable.
This ingredient is usually used at very low levels and concentrations range from 0.000054% - 2.9%. The CIR Expert Panel states this ingredient to be non-irritating at current use levels.
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 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 HydroxyethylcellulosePolysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HydroxideSodium Phosphate is is behind-the-scenes formulation helper. Its main job is buffering, or locking in the product's pH.
This helps ensure the formula stays at its intended acidity through manufacturing, shipping, and sitting on your shelf. Many active ingredients like vitamin C or retinoids are pH sensitive so maintaining their happy pH range matters.
It is synthetic and reported use concentrations are very low (up to 0.086% in face powders).
Learn more about Sodium PhosphateWater. 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
