What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Alcohol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Acer Saccharum Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Lactate
BufferingHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sorbitol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Ormenis Multicaulis Oil
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Carum Petroselinum Seed Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Lactate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Phenoxyethanol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Ormenis Multicaulis Oil, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Carum Petroselinum Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
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.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholDehydroacetic Acid is fungicide and bactericide. It is used as a preservative in cosmetics. Preservatives help elongate the shelf life of a product.
Dehydroacetic Acid is not soluble in water.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Hamamelis Virginiana Water is made by distilling parts of the witch hazel plant. You can also call this ingredient "witch hazel water".
The name 'Hamamelis Virginiana Water' refers to the distillation product used in cosmetics. On the other hand, 'Witch Hazel' refers to the active drug ingredient.
Unless it is specified to be non-alcohol, many types of witch hazel ingredients are distilled in denatured alcohol.
Witch Hazel water is an astringent, anti-inflammatory antioxidant, and antibacterial ingredient.
It contains tannins. Tannins have a drying effect when used on skin by constricting proteins. The constriction also minimizes the appearance of pores.
Both the tannins and fragrance found in witch hazel may be skin-sensitizing.
Witch hazel water gets anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties from its catechin and gallic acid content.
Indigenous groups have used witch hazel to help treat inflammation in North America for centuries.
Learn more about Hamamelis Virginiana WaterPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
