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 ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingAmyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingEugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingZingiber Officinale Root Oil
MaskingMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientEpilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSucrose
HumectantBambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingSalicylic Acid
MaskingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingSilica Silylate
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Citral, Geraniol, Eugenol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sucrose, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid, Caffeine, Arginine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Phospholipids, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Glucosamine Hcl, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tromethamine, Silica Silylate, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77491
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.
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.Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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.
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, itβs 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 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl 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 Acetate