What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialOctocrylene
UV AbsorberStearic Acid
CleansingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPolyester-7
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentTriethanolamine
BufferingParfum
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterDisodium EDTA
Niacinamide
SmoothingSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPEG-90m
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientLavandula Stoechas Extract
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSea Salt
AbrasiveSilica
AbrasiveWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Benzophenone-3, Alcohol Denat., Octocrylene, Stearic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Polyester-7, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Triethanolamine, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Snail Secretion Filtrate, PEG-90m, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Bisabolol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Cholesterol, Lavandula Stoechas Extract, Ceramide NP, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Carrageenan, Astaxanthin, Tocopherol, Sea Salt, Silica
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTapioca Starch
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium EDTA
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Chloride
MaskingCitrus Limon Juice
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPantolactone
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantSorbic Acid
PreservativeAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tapioca Starch, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Niacinamide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Maltodextrin, Sodium Chloride, Citrus Limon Juice, Folic Acid, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Pantolactone, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Sorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Parfum
Reviews
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.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
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 this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
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.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
Learn more about OctocryleneParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or '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 by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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