What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAstragalus Gummifer Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Pentylene Glycol, Lauroyl Lysine, Propanediol, Glycerin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Glyceryl Caprylate, Astragalus Gummifer Gum, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Mica, Tocopherol, CI 77891, CI 77510, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDextrin Palmitate/Ethylhexanoate
EmulsifyingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHelichrysum Italicum Flower Oil
MaskingOriganum Majorana Leaf Extract
AntiseborrhoeicAcmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAmodimethicone
Tocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingCI 75130
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Dextrin Palmitate/Ethylhexanoate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Oil, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Adenosine, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Cellulose Gum, Amodimethicone, Tocopherol, Parfum, CI 75130
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cellulose Gum is a water-soluble polymer that comes from cellulose. It is used to change the texture of a product and to help stabilize emulsions.
As an emulsifier, cellulose gum specifically thicken the texture of water-based products.
This ingredient is considered hypoallergenic and non-toxic. Cellulose Gum can be found in cosmetics, food, and other household goods such as paper products.
Learn more about Cellulose GumGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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