What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Maltitol
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cera Alba
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Hydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ceteth-20
CleansingDimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Methylserine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Dimethoxy Di-P-Cresol
Antioxidant
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Zostera Marina Extract
Skin ConditioningPyracantha Fortuneana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glycerin, Maltitol, Triethylhexanoin, Dipropylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Cera Alba, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Hydroxystearate, Cera Microcristallina, Cetyl Palmitate, Ceteth-20, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Methylserine, Xanthan Gum, Acetyl Glucosamine, Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Dimethoxy Di-P-Cresol, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Zostera Marina Extract, Pyracantha Fortuneana Fruit Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Myristate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water
MaskingRosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Extract
Perfuming
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Saccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeteareth-33
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Myristate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caffeine, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Bisabolol, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Adenosine, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ceteareth-33, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, BHT
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTButylene 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.
Sodium 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
