What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Callus Conditioned Media
Skin ConditioningCitrus Bergamia Peel Oil Expressed
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Cannabis Sativa Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantLimonene
PerfumingCannabidiol - Synthetically Produced
AntioxidantTrifolium Repens Extract
AntioxidantSprout Extract
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingGlyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-2 Oleate
EmulsifyingLinalool
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCitral
PerfumingOligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Caffeine, Curcuma Longa Callus Conditioned Media, Citrus Bergamia Peel Oil Expressed, Disodium EDTA, Cannabis Sativa Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Propylene Glycol, Limonene, Cannabidiol - Synthetically Produced, Trifolium Repens Extract, Sprout Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Linalool, Potassium Sorbate, Gluconolactone, Biotin, Citral, Oligopeptide-2
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingMenthol
MaskingLauric Acid
CleansingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPEG-35 Castor Oil
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCitronellol
PerfumingPassiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
PerfumingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeAlcohol Denat., Water, Caffeine, Panthenol, Parfum, Menthol, Lauric Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-35 Castor Oil, Butylene Glycol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Biotin, Citronellol, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Geraniol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Biotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.
Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.
More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.
Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.
Learn more about BiotinButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaffeine is most associated with coffee, tea, and cacao. In skincare, it helps with calming inflammation and is rich in antioxidants.
While caffeine is used to treat cellulite and and dark circles, further studies are needed to prove this. It has been believed to help with these skin conditions due to its ability to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow.
Some studies are looking into caffeine's ability to protect against UV rays.
Learn more about CaffeineLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPotassium 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 SorbatePropylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium 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