What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyester-5
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Gentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingArtemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer
Vp/Va Copolymer
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Flower Extract
MoisturisingArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Amp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Laureth-21
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Polyester-5, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Octyldodeceth-16, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Alcohol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Parfum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer, Vp/Va Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Amp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Laureth-21, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Limonene
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polyester-5
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningJuniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCopaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Viola Odorata Leaf Extract
MaskingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMorinda Citrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract, Alcohol Denat., Polyester-5, Triethyl Citrate, Water, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Seed Oil, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
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.Butylene 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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPanthenol 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.
We don't have a description for Polyester-5 yet.
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate isn't fungal acne safe.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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
