What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Soybean Fiber
Skin ProtectingCommiphora Mukul Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningColeus Forskohlii Root Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Erythrulose
TanningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningJuniperus Communis Fruit Oil
Masking
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTriethylene Glycol
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Soybean Fiber, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Erythrulose, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Polysorbate 80, Dipropylene Glycol, Triethylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingErythrulose
TanningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Moisturising
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Methoxyphenyl T-Butylphenyl Propanediol
Skin ConditioningAgastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Erythrulose, Propylene Glycol, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Methoxyphenyl T-Butylphenyl Propanediol, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Triethylene Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
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 if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
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.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Aloe Barbadensis Extract is the extract of the whole Aloe plant. It has anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and healing properties.
Aloe contains the antioxidants Vitamins A, C, and E. . These vitamins neutralize free radicals.
It also contains sugars in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, choline, many common minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
The polysaccharides in aloe help moisturize your skin.
Despite helping with sunburn, aloe should not replace your sunscreen.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis ExtractAscorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.
Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.
Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.
The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.
Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidDihydroxyacetone, or DHA, is a simple sugar. It is frequently used in self-tanning products.
DHA binds to the amino acids in your dead skin cells to create a brown/orange color. Darkening begins to kick in a few hours after application and will continue to develop for up to 3 days. This ingredient can be drying.
Both the US and the EU have approved DHA in self-tanning products. In the EU, DHA is allowed at a maximum concentration of 10%. Most tanning products usually contain amounts between 3-5%.
If you are pregnant or have underlying medical conditions, it is best to speak with a dermatologist about using self-tanning products.
Learn more about DihydroxyacetoneWe don't have a description for Erythrulose yet.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or '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 by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to keep ingredients together, and prevent oils and waters from separating.
It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan and oleic acid. This ingredient can be found in cosmetics, foods, and medicine. It is water-soluble.
Polysorbate 80 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Sodium 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 HydroxideSodium metabisulfite is also known as Sodium Pyrosulfite. It is a preservative, antioxidant, and disinfectant.
As a preservative, it helps stabilize cosmetic formulas without affecting their color or scent.
Tocopheryl 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 AcetateTriethylene Glycol is a fragrance.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
