What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialMenthol
MaskingTromethamine
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicButylene Glycol
HumectantMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingMentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
TonicGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningNigella Sativa Seed Extract
PerfumingOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentRibes Nigrum Fruit Extract
AstringentSesamum Indicum Sprout Extract
HumectantSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Centella Asiatica Extract
AntioxidantMadecassoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningLeonurus Sibiricus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
SoothingNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingWater, Alcohol Denat., Menthol, Tromethamine, Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Biotin, Butylene Glycol, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Nigella Sativa Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Sesamum Indicum Sprout Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Leonurus Sibiricus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantNicotinamide Mononucleotide
AntioxidantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningRose Extract
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium DNA
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
ChelatingCalcium Silicate
AbsorbentSodium Silicate
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Linolenate
EmollientGlyceryl Arachidonate
EmollientBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-3
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-16
Skin ProtectingSr-(Oligopeptide-91 Clostridium Botulinum Polypeptide-1)
Skin ConditioningWater, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Rose Extract, Silica, C12-14 Alketh-12, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium DNA, Disodium EDTA, Calcium Silicate, Sodium Silicate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Panthenol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Linolenate, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Biotin, Folic Acid, Thiamine Hcl, Pyridoxine, Retinyl Palmitate, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Cyanocobalamin, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-3, Sh-Polypeptide-16, Sr-(Oligopeptide-91 Clostridium Botulinum Polypeptide-1)
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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.Biotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.
Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.
More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.
Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.
Learn more about BiotinButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 PanthenolWater. 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