What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Talc
Abrasive
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Tribehenin
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSalvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Propylene Carbonate
SolventSorbic Acid
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Palmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingIron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Talc, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Tribehenin, Dipropylene Glycol, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Silica Silylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Gluconolactone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Propylene Carbonate, Sorbic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Silica, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Iron Oxides, CI 77891, Mica
Water
Skin ConditioningDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lotus Maritimus Flower/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Erythrulose
TanningCoconut Oil Glycereth-8 Esters
Cleansing
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dihydroxyacetone, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Lotus Maritimus Flower/Leaf Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Erythrulose, Coconut Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trideceth-9, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Propylene Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Parfum, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, CI 14700, CI 19140, CI 42090
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 GlycerinPropylene 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 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 Water
