What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Buteth-3
SolventHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningPvp
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Cocoate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Tributyl Citrate
SolventDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Mica, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Buteth-3, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Pvp, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Disodium EDTA, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Silica, Dimethiconol, Propylene Glycol, Tributyl Citrate, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Citronellol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholButylene 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 GlycolDehydroacetic Acid is a synthetic preservative that keeps your products safe from microbes.
As an organic acid, it penetrates microbial cell walls and disrupts cellular metabolism. This makes it effective against bacteria, yeast, and mold.
It is effective at low concentrations (<0.6%). Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photosensitizing.
Learn more about Dehydroacetic AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol 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 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 Water
