What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Rosa Moschata Seed Oil
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyisobutene
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Triethanolamine
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCalcium Pantothenate
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, C15-19 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Polyacrylate-13, Saccharide Isomerate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Triethanolamine, Polysorbate 20, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopherol, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Tocopheryl Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium EDTA
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Lactic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Caprylyl 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 GlycerinLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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
