What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentTapioca Starch
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Menthoxypropanediol
Masking
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Caffeine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Phenoxyethanol, Punica Granatum Extract, Tapioca Starch, Isopropyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactobacillus Ferment, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Menthoxypropanediol, Sodium Gluconate, Adenosine, Tin Oxide, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Linalool
Perfuming
Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Linalool, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Citronellol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Citric Acid, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineAlcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
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 this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
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.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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 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
