What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Pyrus Malus Fruit Water
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Codium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Pearl Extract
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Choleth-24
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Menthyl PCA
HumectantEthyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Alcohol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Pearl Extract, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Choleth-24, Sodium Lactate, Menthyl Lactate, Salicylic Acid, Menthyl PCA, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Polyglutamic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Benzoate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Pearl Extract
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gluconolactone, Tromethamine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panthenol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Octyldodeceth-16, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Pearl Extract, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Plankton Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Betaine Salicylate
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
Butylene 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 GlycerinMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract comes from the Tea Tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, Myrtaceae. This tea tree is native to Australia.
Tea Leaf extract contains antimicrobial and anti-acne properties.
This ingredient has perfuming properties and contains linalool and limonene. These fragrance and terpinen components can cause skin sensitivity.
Learn more about the benefits of Tea Tree Oil here.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf ExtractThis ingredient is also known as tea tree oil. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Tea tree oil is a complex lipophilic (fat-loving) oil that contains around 100 compounds with terpinen-4-ol being the most abundant (~40%).
Terpinen-4-ol is responsible for tea tree oil's broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and makes it a well-researched option for acne.
Clinical studies support 5% tea tree oil as an effective topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. A study with 124 patients compared 5% tea tree oil gel to 5% benzoyl peroxide and both reduced acne (though tea tree oil worked more slowly).
Besides acne, it is also seen in anti-dandruff shampoos and scalp treatments for it's antimicrobial and anti-seborrheic properties.
Safety-wise, the allergic potential of low concentrations on healthy skin is considered low. However, oxidized (old or improperly stored) tea tree oil is a stronger sensitizer.
Irritation can also occur if using the undiluted oil on skin; it's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted cosmetic formula. This is because regulations require tea tree oil in cosmetics to be stabilized to prevent degradation.
This ingredient has been deemed safe up to 2% in shampoo, 1% in cleansers, and 0.1% in face cream by the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
There is some lab evidence that tea tree oil is antifungal against Malassezia, but it is a supportive option at best and not a replacement for proven antifungal treatments.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilPearl Extract comes from, well, pearls. Pearls are harvested from oysters.
Pearls are rich in amino-acids, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and antioxidant compounds.
Two antioxidants found in pearls include: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione. Antioxidants aid in reducing the signs of aging.
Studies show pearls can aid in wound healing.
Pearls are harvested from oysters. To be vegan, an ingredient cannot be from an animal source.
Learn more about Pearl ExtractSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
