What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEctoin
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingChondrus Crispus Powder
AbrasiveLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMannitol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeOctyldodecanol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingVitreoscilla Ferment
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmulsifyingEthylenediamine
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSalicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingWater, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Octyldodecanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Ethylenediamine, Pentylene Glycol, Faex Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Tocopherol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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 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