What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin Conditioning
Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Phytic Acid
Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract
MaskingVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Gluconic Acid
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sodium PCA, Lactobacillus Ferment, Niacinamide, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Inulin, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Phytic Acid, Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Sodium Benzoate, Gluconic Acid, Yeast Extract, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Cerium Oxide
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Glucosamine Hcl
Honey
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Commiphora Myrrha Oil
Masking
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Oil
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Cerium Oxide, Sodium PCA, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Glucosamine Hcl, Honey, Phospholipids, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Sphingolipids, Hyaluronic Acid, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 WaterPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
