What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Palm Acid
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hordeum Distichon Extract
Skin ProtectingTriticum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract
HumectantBrassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyquaternium-7
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Octanediol
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Palm Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hordeum Distichon Extract, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Phytate, Butylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-7, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Octanediol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingWater
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
PEG-100 Stearate
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingCapric Acid
Cleansing
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDryopteris Filix-Mas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
4-Terpineol
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Water, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propolis Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Arachidic Acid, Oleic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Malt Extract, Capric Acid, Allantoin, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Alcohol Denat., Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dryopteris Filix-Mas Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, 4-Terpineol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
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
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 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSodium 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
