What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Centifolia Flower
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Rosa Damascena Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Parfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rosa Centifolia Flower, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Rosa Damascena Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Caramel, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Physalis Alkekengi Calyx Extract
Skin ConditioningVerbascum Thapsus Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientRose Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningMichelia Alba Leaf Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Physalis Alkekengi Calyx Extract, Verbascum Thapsus Extract, Algae Extract, Rose Extract, Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Michelia Alba Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, BHT, CI 77491, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene
Reviews
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 GlycolCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateRosa Damascena Flower Oil is an essential oil made from the Damask Rose. It is often used as a fragrance in cosmetics.
Rose Oil has antibacterial and antioxidant properties due to its terpene, glycoside, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and Vitamin C content.
Other major parts of Rose Oil include citronellol and geraniol. Both of these are known EU allergens and cause contact-allergies.
The downsides of this ingredient outweight the positives.
Learn more about Rosa Damascena Flower OilSodium 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 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 Water
