What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Paraffin
Perfuming
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-35 Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sorbitol
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCalcium Pantothenate
Inositol
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicLinalool
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Octocrylene, Cetyl Alcohol, Paraffin, Stearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-35 Castor Oil, Sodium Citrate, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Alcohol Denat., 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Lactic Acid, Serine, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitol, Urea, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Chloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Inositol, Linoleic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Allantoin, Biotin, Linalool, Coumarin, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Isohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Glucose
Humectant
Zingiber Officinale Root Juice
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, C12-14 Pareth-12, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Chlorphenesin, Glucose, Zingiber Officinale Root Juice
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
