What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Adansonia Digitata Oil
Emollient
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract
AntiseborrhoeicGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Adansonia Digitata Oil, Charcoal Powder, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract, Gluconolactone, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Alcohol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycosaminoglycans
EmollientAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Santalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil
Masking
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Totarol
Antioxidant
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycerin, Glycosaminoglycans, Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., Gluconolactone, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Adenosine, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Menthyl Lactate, Santalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil, Silybum Marianum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Totarol, Tocotrienols, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Citric Acid, Phospholipids, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AlcoholGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinHamamelis Virginiana Water is made by distilling parts of the witch hazel plant. You can also call this ingredient "witch hazel water".
The name 'Hamamelis Virginiana Water' refers to the distillation product used in cosmetics. On the other hand, 'Witch Hazel' refers to the active drug ingredient.
Unless it is specified to be non-alcohol, many types of witch hazel ingredients are distilled in denatured alcohol.
Witch Hazel water is an astringent, anti-inflammatory antioxidant, and antibacterial ingredient.
It contains tannins. Tannins have a drying effect when used on skin by constricting proteins. The constriction also minimizes the appearance of pores.
Both the tannins and fragrance found in witch hazel may be skin-sensitizing.
Witch hazel water gets anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties from its catechin and gallic acid content.
Indigenous groups have used witch hazel to help treat inflammation in North America for centuries.
Learn more about Hamamelis Virginiana WaterThis Honeysuckle flower extract comes from the Italian honeysuckle. It is an antioxidant, antimicrobial, and fragrance.
Both this and the Japanese Honeysuckle are rich in a natural paraben that give it antimicrobial property. They are effective in inhibiting bacteria, yeast, and mold.
Honeysuckle contains flavonoids and saponins. Both of these components are natural antioxidants that can help soothe the skin.
As most flowers do, honeysuckle has a natural fragrance.
Learn more about Lonicera Caprifolium Flower ExtractLonicera Japonica Flower Extract comes from the honeysuckle flower.
Honeysuckles have skin protecting, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains many antioxidants, such as luteolin, caffeic acid, loniflavone, and chlorogenic acids.
This honeysuckle is native to East Asia and used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat fever and inflammation.
Learn more about Lonicera Japonica Flower ExtractThis ingredient is also known as tea tree oil. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
According to the book Journal of Profiles of Drug Substances, tea tree helps in reducing acne-causing bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes. This is due to the Terpinen components of tea tree oil.
Clinical studies support 5% tea tree oil as an effective topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. A study with 124 patients compared 5% tea tree oil gel to 5% benzoyl peroxide and both reduced acne (though tea tree oil worked more slowly).
This ingredient may cause sensitivity and irritation for some people. This oil naturally contains fragrance such as linalool and limonene.
However, research shows irritation usually occurs when using pure and undiluted tea tree oil, which is very different from tea tree oil formulated in skincare.
Tea tree oil is toxic when ingested. Another study showed it to caused damage to the nervous system of dogs and cats when applied to their skin or given orally.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
