What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Methylpropanediol
SolventMenthol
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Climbazole
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Pueraria Mirifica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Salicina Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Rubus Coreanus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Nigra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Alcohol Denat., Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Butylene Glycol, C12-14 Alketh-12, Parfum, Methylpropanediol, Menthol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Panthenol, Climbazole, Glyceryl Caprylate, Allantoin, Pueraria Mirifica Root Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Prunus Salicina Fruit Extract, Rubus Coreanus Fruit Extract, Morus Nigra Fruit Extract, Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMenthol
Masking
Dextrin
AbsorbentPropanediol
Solvent
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate
HumectantGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Ocimum Basilicum Oil
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Viola Odorata Leaf Extract
MaskingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Alcohol Denat., Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Menthol, Dextrin, Propanediol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mentha Piperita Oil, Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Biotin, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
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 this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
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.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinMenthol is a compound found in mint plants, such as peppermint. In its pure form, it is a clear crystalline substance.
Menthol is known for its cooling sensation; however, the cooling is actually from your skin being sensitized. Menthol can worsen rosacea. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Menthol also has antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about MentholPeg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil comes from hydrogenated castor oil. It is a solubilizer and emulsifier.
As a solubilizer, it helps dissolve ingredients into a water-based version. It is also an emulsifer. Emulsifier help prevent oils and water from separating. Both these properties help create evenly-spread and uniform products.
Basically, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil helps hold ingredients together.
Learn more about PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor OilWater. 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
