What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventAscorbic Acid 5.5%
Antioxidant2,3-Butanediol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol 2.7%
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 1.8%
Skin ConditioningGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialSorbitol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPhloretin
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Serine
MaskingArginine
MaskingCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Ascorbic Acid 5.5%, 2,3-Butanediol, Glycerin, Panthenol 2.7%, Alcohol Denat., 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 1.8%, Glycosyl Trehalose, Betaine, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Ferulic Acid, Sorbitol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Allantoin, Phloretin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Dextrin, Disodium EDTA, Serine, Arginine, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingPotassium Hydroxide
Buffering2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Thiosulfate
Silica
AbrasiveAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSalicylic Acid
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, 2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Thiosulfate, Silica, Adenosine, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Salicylic Acid, Chlorphenesin, CI 15510, CI 19140, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Parfum
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.Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 LinaloolSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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 Water