What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Ethyl Ester Of Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingSwertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Alanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Threonine
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Propylparaben
Preservative
Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Betaine, Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Sodium PCA, Sorbitol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Ethyl Ester Of Hydrolyzed Silk, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Serine, Morus Alba Root Extract, Swertia Japonica Extract, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Glycine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glutamic Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Alanine, Arginine, Lysine, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Threonine, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Proline, Royal Jelly Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Soluble Collagen, Propylparaben, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Reviews
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 AlcoholButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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
