What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientRosa Canina Seed Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSantalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantSodium Phosphate
BufferingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingAdenine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarnitine
CleansingPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tributyl Citrate
MaskingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningDextran
Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingPhenyl T-Butylnitrone
AntioxidantThioctic Acid
AntioxidantWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Cetyl Alcohol, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Santalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil, Disodium Phosphate, Phospholipids, Ubiquinone, Sodium Phosphate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Adenine, Caprylyl Glycol, Carnitine, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Alcohol Denat., Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Dextran, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Phenyl T-Butylnitrone, Thioctic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate
EmulsifyingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingTerminalia Arjuna Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
AntioxidantTetrapeptide-30
Skin ConditioningPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingCoriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil
MaskingJuniperus Mexicana Wood Oil
PerfumingTagetes Minuta Flower Oil
MaskingBoswellia Carterii Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Isopropyl Myristate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Terminalia Arjuna Bark Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Tetrapeptide-30, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Wood Oil, Tagetes Minuta Flower Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alcohol Denat., Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.This ingredient is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil is oil from the peel of an orange fruit.
Limonene and linalool make up the majority of oils from citrus peels. Limonene has a "citrus" fragrance. Citrus peels also contain flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.
Citrus peel is also a rich source of flavonoids. Flavonoids are natural antioxidants and help protect your skin against damage. Flavonoids are a group of compounds naturally found in vegetables and fruits.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel OilEthylhexylglycerin (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.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilPhenoxyethanol 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 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