What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycosaminoglycans
EmollientLecithin
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycosaminoglycans, Lecithin, Polyacrylate-13, Xanthan Gum, Polyisobutene, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Triethanolamine, Benzoic Acid, Triethylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
