What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSea Water
HumectantHoney
HumectantPearl Extract
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStyrene/Vp Copolymer
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantLilium Tigrinum Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialChrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Ecklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningCodium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningBuddleja Davidii Extract
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Propylene Glycol, Sea Water, Honey, Pearl Extract, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Carbomer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Benzoate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Polysilicone-15
UV FilterMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberHexyl Laurate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningTriticum Aestivum Seed Extract
Perfuming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningC20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Phytate
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentLipase
Skin ConditioningProtease
ExfoliatingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Alcohol, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Phenethyl Benzoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polysilicone-15, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Hexyl Laurate, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Aspergillus Ferment, Triticum Aestivum Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tromethamine, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Glycerin, Sodium Phytate, Maltodextrin, Lipase, Protease, C20-22 Alcohols, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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