What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Arachidyl Glucoside
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingLevulinic Acid
Perfuming
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, C10-18 Triglycerides, Arachidyl Alcohol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Sucrose Stearate, Saccharide Isomerate, Behenyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Inulin, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Lactobacillus, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Arginine, Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Arachidyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Maltodextrin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, O-Cymen-5-Ol
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningAstrocaryum Tucuma Seed Butter
Emollient
Trichilia Emetica Seed Butter
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Potassium Stearate
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Beeswax, Stearic Acid, Persea Gratissima Oil, Lactobacillus, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Astrocaryum Tucuma Seed Butter, Trichilia Emetica Seed Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Glycine Soja Oil, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sodium PCA, Zinc PCA, Maltodextrin, Potassium Stearate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide is a prebiotic. It prevents harmful bacteria from growing on skin by keeping the skin's microbiome in balance.
Another benefit of this ingredient is its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants protect our skin from oxidative damage.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax is created from the common sunflower.
Sunflower seed wax is made up of long chain non-glyceride esters, a small amount of fatty alcohols, and fatty acids.
This ingredient is often used to enhance the texture of products. The fatty acid properties also help hydrate the skin.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed WaxLactobacillus is a type of bacteria with skin conditioning properties. This ingredient has antibacterial and antifungal properties (that's why we can eat fermented foods).
Learn more about the benefits of lactobacillus ferment here.
Fun Fact: Lactobacillus is used to create wine, yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut, pickles, beer, cider, kimchi, cocoa, kefir.
Learn more about LactobacillusMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice comes from the roots of the Yacon plant native to South America. It is a skin conditioning ingredient that helps keep skin feeling soft and hydrated.
Yacon roots are naturally loaded with fructooligosaccharides (FOS), a type of prebiotic sugar. Prebiotics like FOS help feed the "good" bacteria on your skin to support a healthy and balanced environment.
This root juice also contains antioxidant compounds (like chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid).
Just so you know, Yacon belongs to the daisy family so be sure to patch test if you have a known allergy to plants in that family.
Learn more about Polymnia Sonchifolia Root JuicePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 BenzoateTocopherol (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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
