What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Emollient
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingPotassium Gluconate
Skin ProtectingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Adansonia Digitata Oil
Emollient
Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Caryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Algin
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningChitosan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carrageenan
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Lauryl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isoamyl Laurate, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Butylene Glycol, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Potassium Gluconate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Adansonia Digitata Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Caryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Algin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Chitosan, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Carrageenan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningPicea Mariana Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Melatonin
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Sebacate
SolventPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate/Caprate
StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingResveratrol
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Bakuchiol, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Picea Mariana Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Biotin, Caffeine, Dextran, Melatonin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Sebacate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate/Caprate, Xanthan Gum, Resveratrol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Citric Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol
Reviews
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 AlcoholButylene 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinSodium 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 BenzoateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
