What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Algin
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Isoamyl Laurate, Squalane, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Parfum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Sodium Gluconate, Trehalose, Urea, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Pentylene Glycol, Serine, Algin, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningIsoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lunaria Annua Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Isoamyl Laurate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Behenyl Alcohol, Lunaria Annua Seed Oil, Glycerin, Arachidyl Alcohol, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arachidyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol made from the the arachidic acid found in peanut oil.
Despite having "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethanol.
This ingredient is a multitasker:
Just be sure to patch this ingredient if you have a peanut allergy (though this ingredient is highly processed and the allergenic proteins are typically removed).
Learn more about Arachidyl AlcoholThis ingredient is a plant-based surfactant and emulsifier. It helps oil and water based ingredients mix evenly to improve formula stability without adding a "greasy" feel.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholCaprylyl 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 GlycerinIsoamyl Laurate is created from isoamyl alcohol and lauric acid. It is an emollient and traps moisture underneath.
This ingredient helps give products a silky feel and is considered a silicone alternative.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Isoamyl LauratePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol 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 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 BenzoateThis is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateTocopherol (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
