What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Octapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Silk Amino Acids
HumectantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seedcake Extract
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ethyl Acetate
Perfuming
Isopropyl Cloprostenate
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Octapeptide-2, Niacinamide, Silk Amino Acids, Biotin, Panthenol, Glycerin, Phosphatidylcholine, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seedcake Extract, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Alcohol Denat., Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethyl Acetate, Isopropyl Cloprostenate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMenthol
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPiroctone Olamine
Preservative
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dextran
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Menthol, Menthyl Lactate, Azelaic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Piroctone Olamine, Pyridoxine Hcl, Zinc PCA, Sodium Hydroxide, Dehydroacetic Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin, Dextran, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Potassium 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 SorbateSodium 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 Water
