What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sd Alcohol 40-B
Astringent
Water
Skin ConditioningVp/Va Copolymer
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Polyquaternium-11
Silicone Quaternium-3
Glycerin
Humectant
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-59
UV AbsorberCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Sd Alcohol 40-B, Water, Vp/Va Copolymer, Isopropyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Parfum, Cetrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-11, Silicone Quaternium-3, Glycerin, Trideceth-12, Polyquaternium-59, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sd Alcohol 40-B
Astringent
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyquaternium-11
Polyquaternium-16
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXylitol
Humectant
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Starch
Abrasive
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Galactoarabinan
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Vp/Va Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Laurtrimonium Chloride
Emulsifying
Sodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-11, Polyquaternium-16, Heptyl Undecylenate, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xylitol, Coconut Alkanes, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Triticum Vulgare Starch, Cetrimonium Chloride, Galactoarabinan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Silk, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vp/Va Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Laurtrimonium Chloride, Sodium Bisulfite, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
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 GlycerinIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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.
We don't have a description for Polyquaternium-11 yet.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Potassium 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 SorbateSD Alcohol 40-B is created by denaturing ethanol with tert-Butyl alcohol and denatonium benzoate. It is a solvent and astringent.
The 'SD' stands for 'specially denatured'. Denatured alcohol means the structure has been altered.
The 40-B is given by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. This is in accordance to the method of how the alcohol was denatured.
This ingredient is a solvent alcohol.
Learn more about Sd Alcohol 40-BSodium 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 BenzoateVP/VA Copolymer is a synthetic polymer made by joining two smaller molecules (vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate) into a larger chain.
It is mainly used as a film-former and fixing agent. When a product dries, it creates a thin and flexible layer on the skin, hair, or nails. This film helps hold hairstyles into place, adds a smooth feel to skin, and traps moisture to reduce dryness.
Irritation is rare at normal concentrations and it doesn't penetrate deeply into skin.
Learn more about Vp/Va CopolymerWater. 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
