What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearate
CleansingXylitol
Humectant
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantOleth-20
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Rosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Menthone Glycerin Acetal
Refreshing
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Stearate, Xylitol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Mica, Oleth-20, Glycerin, Caffeine, Hyaluronic Acid, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Menthyl Lactate, Sodium PCA, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77891, CI 75470, CI 77491
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSodium Stearate
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingColeus Forskohlii Root Extract
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Stearate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Water, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 BenzoateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium stearate is the sodium salt of stearic acid.
The structure of sodium stearate makes it both a cleanser and emulsifier. As a cleanser, it helps dissolve dirt, oil, and other pollutants. As an emulsifier, it helps prevent ingredients from separating. This adds stability to the formula.
Tocopherol 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 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
