What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates Copolymer
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ceresin
Emulsion StabilisingSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Bentonite
Absorbent
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Tromethamine
BufferingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantC12-15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPolyethylene
Abrasive
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Polyisobutene
Water, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Trimethicone, Acrylates Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Palmitic Acid, Ceresin, Synthetic Beeswax, Synthetic Wax, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Bentonite, Potassium Sorbate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pvp, Sodium Benzoate, Tromethamine, Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Iron Oxides, CI 77891, C12-15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyethylene, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polyisobutene
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Amp-Acrylates Copolymer
Steareth-20
CleansingSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Bentonite
Absorbent
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantIngredients 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 AlcoholBentonite is an aluminium phyllosilicate clay with great absorbent properties. The name 'bentonite' comes from the area where the largest source is found: Fort Benton, Wyoming.
As a clay, bentonite is often used to absorb excess oil and provide exfoliation. It has also been shown to have some antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies show bentonite was effective at calming dermatitis from poison ivy and in diaper dermatitis of infants. Bentonite has also been shown to act as a barrier against toxic compounds on your skin.
Sunscreens containing bentonite display higher water resistance and stay on the skin for much longer. The sunscreens containing bentonite also show higher potency and UV light absorbtion.
Bentonite is naturally created from volcanic ash and several natural weathering/hydrothermal processes.
A common usage of bentonite is removing excess protein from white wines. Bentonite contains a property of being able to absorb large amounts of protein from aqueous solutions.
Phyllosilicate clay has a structure formed by sheets.
Learn more about BentoniteButylene 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 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 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.
Pvp is a water-soluble synthetic polymer and common hairstyling ingredient. It is a film-forming ingredient and used to "hold" specific shapes of hair.
In cosmetics, PVP helps products like sunscreens and color cosmetics last longer and wear more evenly.
It is less effective in high-humidity. It tends to draw moisture, but this moisture dismantles the structure and "hold".
PVP is generally well tolerated on skin and toxicity studies are negative for dermal irritation.
Learn more about PvpSodium Dehydroacetate is a synthetic preservative and sodium salt form of dehydroacetic acid. It stops bacteria, mold, and yeast from growing in your products at low concentrations.
Clinical testing found it to be non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photosensitizing. It's also not significantly absorbed through skin.
There are a very small number of reported cases of contact dermatitis in cases linked to wound-care creams used over compromised skin (rather than skincare).
Overall, this is a well-studied and low-risk preservative just doing its job.
Typical concentrations run up to 0.6%, which is also the maximum amount permitted under both EU CosIng regulations and US FDA guidelines.
Learn more about Sodium DehydroacetateWater. 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
