What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyacrylic Acid
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyester-5
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
PEG-60
HumectantHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Artemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Polyester-5, Alcohol Denat., Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, PEG-60, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Octyldodeceth-16, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate
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.Centella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractOctyldodeceth-16 comes from the fatty-alcohol Octyldodecanol.
Emulsifers keep oils and water ingredients together to create a more even consistency.
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate isn't fungal acne safe.
Water. 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
