What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
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
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenyl Ethyl Ether
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Histidine
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Silica
Abrasive
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Stearyl Alcohol, Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Glutamic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Citric Acid, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Isopropyl Alcohol, Histidine, Linalool, CI 77491, Hexyl Cinnamal, Silica, Biotin
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 AlcoholBiotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.
Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.
More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.
Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.
Learn more about BiotinCitric 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 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
