What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingImidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Soy Isoflavones
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Pisum Sativum Extract, Sodium Citrate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 80, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Lecithin, Sodium Benzoate, Soy Isoflavones, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Tetrahydrofarnesylacetate
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingPEG/PPG-200/70 Copolymer
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlcaligenes Polysaccharides
EmollientAlbatrellus Ovinus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrangea Paniculata Flower/Fruit Extract
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Orobanche Rapum Extract
Skin ProtectingPotentilla Miyabei Callus Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Tetrahydrofarnesylacetate, Sodium Citrate, PEG/PPG-200/70 Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Albatrellus Ovinus Extract, Hydrangea Paniculata Flower/Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Orobanche Rapum Extract, Potentilla Miyabei Callus Extract, Ceramide Ng
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 also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
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.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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
