What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
C9-12 Alkane
SolventSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Eragrostis Tef Seed Extract
EmollientAnigozanthos Flavidus Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Morus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
Buffering
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Phytate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Damascena Extract
MaskingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Camphora Linalooliferum Wood Extract
Perfuming
Water, Triheptanoin, Propanediol, C9-12 Alkane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glycerin, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Bakuchiol, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Eragrostis Tef Seed Extract, Anigozanthos Flavidus Flower/Leaf Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Citric Acid, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Phytate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lauryl Glucoside, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Diisopropyl Adipate, Triethyl Citrate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Extract, Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Extract, Cinnamomum Camphora Linalooliferum Wood Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEchinacea Purpurea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Phytate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower, Glycerin, Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alcohol, Sodium Phytate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about 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 GlycerinSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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
