What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Salvia Officinalis Extract
Antimicrobial
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialTartaric Acid
Buffering
Wool Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Actinidia Deliciosa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-20
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Hedta
Absorbent1,4-Cyclohexanedicarboxylic Acid
EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycerin Methyl Ether
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Ascorbyl Glucoside, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Soluble Collagen, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Tartaric Acid, Wool Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Actinidia Deliciosa Fruit Extract, Water, Alcohol Denat., Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-20, Potassium Hydroxide, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hedta, 1,4-Cyclohexanedicarboxylic Acid, EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Glycerin Methyl Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingMilk Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Methylparaben
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Methyl Gluceth-10, Milk Ferment, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Ubiquinone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyquaternium-51, Lecithin, Methylparaben
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.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 GlycolCitric 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 AcidSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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 Water
