What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPumice
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates Crosspolymer-4
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
SolventSodium Chloride
MaskingSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingGlycolic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCharcoal Powder
AbrasiveZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentMannitol
HumectantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentAmylopectin
Dextrin
AbsorbentPolydextrose
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantCalcium Gluconate
HumectantQuartz
AbrasiveSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingAbies Sibirica Oil
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingPinene
MaskingBeta-Caryophyllene
MaskingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Pumice, Glycerin, Acrylates Crosspolymer-4, Propanediol, Sodium Chloride, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Niacinamide, Gluconolactone, Charcoal Powder, Zea Mays Starch, Mannitol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Polydextrose, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium PCA, Calcium Gluconate, Quartz, Sodium Hydroxide, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Abies Sibirica Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Pinene, Beta-Caryophyllene
Water
Skin ConditioningAleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingPumice
AbrasiveGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientLitchi Chinensis Seed Powder
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningGigartina Stellata/Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ProtectingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl Glyceryl Ether
CleansingPropanediol
SolventOryza Sativa Powder
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Pumice, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Litchi Chinensis Seed Powder, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Gigartina Stellata/Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glyceryl Ether, Propanediol, Oryza Sativa Powder, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Mentha Piperita Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilPropanediol 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 PropanediolPumice is an exfoliant.
Sodium 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