What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Bentonite
Absorbent
Propanediol
Solvent
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Sulfur
Antiseborrhoeic
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil
Masking
Origanum Vulgare Leaf Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
Masking
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Genipa Americana Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAlgin
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Kaolin, Bentonite, Propanediol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Sulfur, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Silica, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Genipa Americana Extract, Arginine, Acacia Senegal Gum, Citric Acid, Cellulose Gum, Algin, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydroxyacetophenone, CI 77891
Centella Asiatica Extract 47.4%
Cleansing
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventIsododecane
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTotarol
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract 47.4%, Triethylhexanoin, Glycerin, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Isododecane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Water, Magnesium Sulfate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Madecassic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Beta-Sitosterol, Caramel, Madecassoside, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Totarol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Reviews
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
Hydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having ‘sulfate’ in the name, it isn’t a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesn’t have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfateWater. 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
