What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Passiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Alcohol Denat., Tocopheryl Acetate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningColostrum
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Colostrum, Pentylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Disodium EDTA, Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Linalool, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP) is a form of Vitamin C and is an antioxidant. It can help to reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, and brighten skin.
MAP is created by combining ascorbic acid with magnesium salt. While MAP more gentle on the skin than ascorbic acid, it is thought to be less easily-absorbed into the skin.
Due to MAP's stability up to a pH level of 7, it is more stable to air and sunlight exposure than ascorbic acid. The best pH range for MAP is between 5 and 6.
Like other forms of Vitamin C, MAP has been shown to help reduce hyperpigmentation and simulate collagen production.
As an antioxidant, it helps protect your skin against the signs of aging.
Learn more about Magnesium Ascorbyl PhosphatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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. 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
