What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDecyl Oleate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientRibose
HumectantHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAdansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantCitrus Tangerina Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingVanillin
MaskingDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Decyl Oleate, Coco-Caprylate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Ribose, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Vanillin, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCalcium Pantetheine Sulfonate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingIngredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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