What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSodium Stearate
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOleth-2
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Oleth-2, Stearic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 47005, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning2,3-Butanediol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingMaris Aqua
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingHibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantChlorella Ferment
Skin ConditioningKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
CleansingSarcosine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningAgarose
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium PCA
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantErythritol
HumectantCarrageenan
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Carbonate
BufferingBenzoic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, 2,3-Butanediol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Niacinamide, Maris Aqua, Caffeine, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Chlorella Ferment, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopherol, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Sarcosine, Magnesium Aspartate, Potassium Aspartate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Agarose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium PCA, Propylene Glycol, Erythritol, Carrageenan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Carbonate, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 42090
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCi 42090 is a synthetic dye created from petroleum. It is used to give a bright blue color to cosmetics, medicine, and food.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Potassium 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