What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Gellan Gum
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrifolium Pratense Extract
Skin ConditioningSprout Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Dextran
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentCitric Acid
Buffering
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingHeptyl Glucoside
Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-7
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMannitol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Polyquaternium-10
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicXimenia Americana Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Sr-(Wasp Spider Polypeptide-1 Oligopeptide-178)
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Stearamine
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Dimyristyl Phosphate
CleansingHistidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Glycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Heptyl Glucoside, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate, Polyquaternium-7, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Panthenol, Hexylene Glycol, Mannitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phosphatidylcholine, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-10, Biotin, Ximenia Americana Seed Oil, Sorbitan Laurate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Sr-(Wasp Spider Polypeptide-1 Oligopeptide-178), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Ceramide NP, Stearamine, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Threonine, Isoleucine, Proline, Dimyristyl Phosphate, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glycoproteins, Oligopeptide-2
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 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 SorbateSodium 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. 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
