What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
HumectantPolymethyl Methacrylate
Ptfe
Cetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientDimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentLens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Isododecane, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Butylene Glycol, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Ptfe, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Polyacrylate-13, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polyisobutene, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, CI 42090
Glycolic Acid
BufferingWater
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDaucus Carota Sativa Extract
PerfumingPropanediol
SolventCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingTartaric Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycolic Acid, Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Propanediol, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol
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 GlycerinPolysorbate 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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