What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Tripeptide-29
Skin Conditioning
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Limonium Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Thymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Tripeptide-29, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Limonium Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Sodium Gluconate, Carbomer, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningCollagen
Moisturising
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Phytate
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialLactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Propylene Glycol, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Caffeine, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Collagen, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Phytate, Glycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Anisate, Lactic Acid
Reviews
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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate is a natural preservative. It comes from fermenting radish roots with a bacteria called leuconostoc. The trade name for this ingredient is Leucidal.
Leuconostoc comes from lactic acid.
This ingredient has antimicrobial properties and helps prevent the growth of bacteria in a product.
Leuconostoc is used to make the traditional Korean side-dish, kimchi. It is also used to make sourdough bread (both incredibly yummy foods).
Learn more about Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment FiltrateWater. 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
