What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingHuman Platelet Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-5 Isononanoate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Gelatin
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Silanetriol
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Trideceth-9, Human Platelet Extract, PEG-5 Isononanoate, Panthenol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Arginine, Silanetriol, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Carnosine
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Galactoarabinan
Schizophyllan
HumectantTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningUrea Acetate
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMagnesium Chloride
Disodium EDTA
Phytic Acid
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Squalene
Emollient
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Galactoarabinan, Schizophyllan, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Urea Acetate, Beta-Sitosterol, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Lysolecithin, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Phytic Acid, Maltodextrin, Squalene, Aminomethyl Propanol, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 SorbatePropanediol 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 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
