What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Deuterium Oxide
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Oil
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Glucosamine Hcl
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Commiphora Myrrha Oil
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Water, Alcohol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Deuterium Oxide, Sodium PCA, Cucumis Sativus Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Phospholipids, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Fructooligosaccharides, Glucosamine Hcl, Hyaluronic Acid, Sphingolipids, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Sorbitol
Humectant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Glucosamine Hcl
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Water, Alcohol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Gluconate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sorbitol, Proline, Fructooligosaccharides, Glucosamine Hcl, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
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.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholFructooligosaccharides (FOS) are a type of prebiotic sugar with humectant and skin conditioning properties. As a humectant, they help attract and hold moisture in the skin.
FOS essentially acts as a food source for the "good" bacteria on your skin and make it harder for "bad" bacteria to thrive. A 2022 study using a reconstructured human skin model found that just 1% of FOS was enough to shift the bacteria balance in favor of beneficial species. This suggests it could help support a healthier skin microbiome over time.
This ingredient has a low sensitization risk and testing shows it does not classify as a skin irritant or sensitizer.
FOS are usually produced from sugar beets and can also be found in foods like bananas, garlic, and onions.
Learn more about FructooligosaccharidesWe don't have a description for Glucosamine Hcl yet.
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 GlycerinPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
