What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Pyruvic Acid
MaskingCharcoal Powder
Abrasive
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Powder
Abrasive
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Algae Extract
Emollient
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Nylon-12
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol Denat., Propanediol, Mandelic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Pyruvic Acid, Charcoal Powder, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Powder, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Algae Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Nylon-12, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Mentha Piperita Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Water
MaskingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Citrus Medica Peel Oil
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Viola Odorata Oil
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Centaurium Erythraea Extract
Skin ConditioningImpatiens Balsamina Leaf Extract
AstringentYeast Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Tocotrienols
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Citrus Medica Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Viola Odorata Oil, Citral, Linalool, Farnesol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Salicylic Acid, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Centaurium Erythraea Extract, Impatiens Balsamina Leaf Extract, Yeast Extract, Polysorbate 80, Tocotrienols, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTALimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
