What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
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
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Swertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Dextrin
AbsorbentSodium Benzoate
Masking
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Dipropylene Glycol, Potassium Cocoate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Lauryl Glucoside, Salicylic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Panthenol, Gluconolactone, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Swertia Japonica Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Isethionate, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Dextrin, Sodium Benzoate, Coconut Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-7, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
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
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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPolyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
Potassium 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 HydroxideRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil is an essential oil also known as rosemary essential oil. In skincare, it is a skin conditioning agent and also acts as a natural fragrance that gives products a fresh/herby smell.
The oil is a mix of over 100 volatile compounds with 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, camphor, and verbenone usually leading the pack.
Lab studies credit this oil with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity. Some research even show rosemary compounds calming acne-related inflammation.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be nonsensitizing.
Since this is a fragrant essential oil, the main concern is for fragrance-sensitive folks.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf OilSodium 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
