What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTribehenin
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Steareth-20
CleansingHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
PEG-10 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningSodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Tribehenin, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Steareth-20, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Ceramide Ng, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glycine Soja Protein, Sodium Benzoate, Superoxide Dismutase, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Chrysin, Carbomer, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Polysorbate 20, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Lecithin
Emollient
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Octyldodecyl Oleate
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Glycerin
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningEscin
TonicSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Plumeria Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPlumeria Rubra Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Wine
Skin ConditioningAmethyst Powder
Abrasive
Moonstone Powder
Skin ConditioningQuartz
Abrasive
Ruby Powder
Skin ConditioningSolanum Tuberosum Pulp Extract
SmoothingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Succinic Acid
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycereth-26, Triheptanoin, Maltodextrin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol, Lecithin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Polysorbate 20, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Benzyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Caffeine, PEG-100 Stearate, Carbomer, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Escin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Potassium Phosphate, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Plumeria Alba Flower Extract, Plumeria Rubra Flower Extract, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Parfum, Wine, Amethyst Powder, Moonstone Powder, Quartz, Ruby Powder, Solanum Tuberosum Pulp Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Succinic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDehydroacetic Acid is a synthetic preservative that keeps your products safe from microbes.
As an organic acid, it penetrates microbial cell walls and disrupts cellular metabolism. This makes it effective against bacteria, yeast, and mold.
It is effective at low concentrations (<0.6%). Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photosensitizing.
Learn more about Dehydroacetic AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it 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 SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
