What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientChondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Betaine
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Chloride
Sucrose
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Morus Nigra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Algin
Masking
Dextrin
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPeat Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Betaine, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Potassium Chloride, Sucrose, Niacinamide, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Morus Nigra Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Resveratrol, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Cellulose Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Algin, Dextrin, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Peat Water, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Limonene, Hyaluronic Acid, Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
C9-12 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Soy Acid
EmollientFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Elastin
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Wheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Olus Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Propanediol, C9-12 Alkane, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Behenyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Oleic Acid, Soy Acid, Ferulic Acid, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Elastin, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Wheat Amino Acids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Saccharomyces Ferment, Jojoba Esters, Olus Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Lauroyl Lysine, Arachidic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Histidine Hcl, Carnosine, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Lauryl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, CI 15985, CI 19140
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPotassium 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 SorbateWater. 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
