What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientTorreya Nucifera Seed Oil
EmollientSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingLimonene
PerfumingJuniperus Communis Fruit Oil
MaskingPinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
MaskingJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingSalicylic Acid
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingLinalool
PerfumingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingArtemisia Vulgaris Oil
PerfumingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingCupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Trimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Silica, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Torreya Nucifera Seed Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Limonene, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Salicylic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Linalool, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantUrea
BufferingGlycereth-26
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Torreya Nucifera Seed Oil
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBHT
AntioxidantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetic Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Alcohol, Hexylene Glycol, Betaine, Urea, Glycereth-26, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Octyldodeceth-16, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Torreya Nucifera Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, BHT, Potassium Hydroxide, Acetic Acid, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinRicinus Communis Seed Oil is the INCI name for castor oil.
Castor Oil helps moisturize the skin. It is rich in a fatty acid called ricinoleic acid. This fatty acid helps prevent moisture loss on the skin. This helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. Ricinoleic acid also has anti-inflammatory and pain reducing properties.
Besides hydrating the skin, castor oil is also used to hydrate hair. By keeping the hair shaft moisturized, breakage is decreased. More studies are needed to show castor oil's effective on stimulating hair growth.
Castor oil is created by cold-pressing castor seeds and then purifying the oil with heat. It was used in Ancient Egypt as fuel in lamps and to help treat eye irritation.
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 Ricinus Communis Seed OilSalix Alba Bark Extract comes from the bark of the white willow tree. The official CosIng listing states this ingredient to have astringent, skin conditioning, soothing, and tonic properties.
Its star compound is salicin, a natural glucoside that is chemically related to salicylic acid. That's why you'll often see it marketed as a "natural BHA alternative" but that's a bit of a stretch.
Your skin can't convert salicin to salicylic acid because it needs specific enzymes that aren't present on the skin's surface. It won't behave like true salicylic acid, especially at the concentrations used in cosmetics.
However, this ingredient has its own perks. It contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins that give it proven antioxidant and soothing properties.
An 8-week clinical study found a cream with 2% of this extract improved skin microcirculation, elasticity, and dark circles. This is most likely due to its role in increasing hyaluronic acid synthesis in fibroblasts and improved vascular integrity.
Another study found a topical serum with 0.5% salicin showed improvements in visible signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and texture.
Just be careful if you have a known aspirin/salicylate allergy and be sure to consult with a medical professional about using this ingredient if you do.
Fun fact: Willow Bark extract has been used for thousands of years and ancient civilizations used white willow to help treat pain and fevers.
Learn more about Salix Alba Bark ExtractTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolTorreya Nucifera Seed Oil is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
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