What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingDimethicone
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Isohexadecane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Poloxamer 235
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Rosa Centifolia Bud Extract
EmollientBHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
BHA
Antioxidant
Combretum Farinosum Flower Nectar
MaskingNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Glycerin, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Dimethicone, Polyacrylamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Panthenol, Isohexadecane, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid, Laureth-7, Polysorbate 80, Poloxamer 235, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sorbitan Oleate, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Ascorbate, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Rosa Centifolia Bud Extract, BHT, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, BHA, Combretum Farinosum Flower Nectar, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol Denat., Dihydroxyacetone, Propylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Hexylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, CI 19140, CI 42090
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
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 if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
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.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDihydroxyacetone, or DHA, is a simple sugar. It is frequently used in self-tanning products.
DHA binds to the amino acids in your dead skin cells to create a brown/orange color. Darkening begins to kick in a few hours after application and will continue to develop for up to 3 days. This ingredient can be drying.
Both the US and the EU have approved DHA in self-tanning products. In the EU, DHA is allowed at a maximum concentration of 10%. Most tanning products usually contain amounts between 3-5%.
If you are pregnant or have underlying medical conditions, it is best to speak with a dermatologist about using self-tanning products.
Learn more about DihydroxyacetonePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
