What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantParfum
MaskingSalicylic Acid
MaskingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Benzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialRubus Idaeus Juice
AstringentBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingSodium Benzoate
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, Salicylic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Benzyl Benzoate, Rubus Idaeus Juice, Benzyl Alcohol, Geraniol, Linalool, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Sodium Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Potassium Sorbate, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePunica Granatum Extract
AstringentTapioca Starch
Isopropyl Alcohol
SolventHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningNigella Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Menthoxypropanediol
MaskingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
AbrasiveTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingCI 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
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.Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
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 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.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
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 Hydroxide