What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Bis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ocimum Basilicum Hairy Root Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantGlycine
Buffering
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningApigenin
Antioxidant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pisum Sativum Sprout Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Bis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ocimum Basilicum Hairy Root Culture Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Glycine, Zinc Chloride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Apigenin, Oleanolic Acid, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Ethoxydiglycol, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Redensyl
Baicalin
Antioxidant
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Keratin
Skin ConditioningPalmeth-2
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
