What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Phragmites Karka Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Aristotelia Chilensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Water, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Phragmites Karka Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Aristotelia Chilensis Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Citric Acid
Buffering
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Polyquaternium-39
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Magnesium Nitrate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMagnesium Chloride
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
CI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Cocamide Mea, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hexylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Panthenol, Benzophenone-4, Citric Acid, Triethylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-39, Propylene Glycol, Magnesium Nitrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Magnesium Chloride, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Sodium Benzoate, Methylisothiazolinone, Benzyl Alcohol, CI 15510
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 most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
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.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
