What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlisma Orientale Tuber Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSmilax Glabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingMenthol
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSalicylic Acid
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract
AntioxidantFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBerberis Vulgaris Root Extract
AntimicrobialMorus Nigra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDiospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientLespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAndrographis Paniculata Extract
AstringentMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentSwertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingBiota Orientalis Leaf Extract
HumectantMyristoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingForsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
AntioxidantGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantAcorus Gramineus Extract
HumectantPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingMadecassoside
AntioxidantAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAlanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Alisma Orientale Tuber Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Smilax Glabra Root Extract, Glycerin, Tromethamine, Menthol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Propanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract, Morus Nigra Fruit Extract, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract, Andrographis Paniculata Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Swertia Japonica Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Biota Orientalis Leaf Extract, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-4, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Chrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Acorus Gramineus Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Madecassoside, Aspergillus Ferment, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl, Geraniol, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMenthol
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicDioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPueraria Mirifica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRuscus Aculeatus Root Extract
AstringentGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantDextran
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantLinoleic Acid
CleansingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningInositol
HumectantThiamine Hcl
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caffeine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Menthol, Citric Acid, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Biotin, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Pueraria Mirifica Root Extract, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dextran, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Cyanocobalamin, Tocopherol, Linoleic Acid, Riboflavin, Beta-Carotene, Inositol, Thiamine Hcl, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
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 this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
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.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Butylene 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 GlycolCopper Tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu) is a skin repairing ingredient known for its ability to boost collagen, improve firmness, and support skin regeneration.
It is a complex made up of a naturally occurring peptide (glycine-histidine-lysine) and copper, an essential trace element.
While studying wound healing, researchers noticed GHK-Cu stimulated hair follicle enlargement and growth by keeping hair in its active growth phase longer. This has made it a promising ingredient for hair regrowth treatments.
Some people have reported increased facial hair. While GHK-Cu can make your hair follicles bigger, it usually doesn’t turn soft, barely-visible facial hairs into thick, dark ones.
Anecdotal reports suggest that overusing copper peptides might lead to premature aging due to excess free copper or enzyme imbalances. This claim isn’t backed by large-scale studies.
Unfortunately, there are limited human studies for this ingredient. While early results are promising, many studies are either small, in-vitro, or not rigorously controlled.
For example, there is a 1998 study that explored the effects of copper tripeptide, vitamin C, tretinoin, and melatonin on skin repair and collagen synthesis.
After one month, increased procollagen production was seen in 7 out of 10 participants using copper tripeptide (more than those using vitamin C, melatonin, or tretinoin.
While the study was exploratory, it offers early evidence that copper tripeptide may support collagen production. Larger, well-designed trials are still needed to confirm its potential and understand individual responses.
Read more about other common types of peptides here:
Learn more about Copper Tripeptide-1Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinMenthol is a compound found in mint plants, such as peppermint. In its pure form, it is a clear crystalline substance.
Menthol is known for its cooling sensation; however, the cooling is actually from your skin being sensitized. Menthol can worsen rosacea. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Menthol also has antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about MentholPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract comes from rosemary. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean.
While Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil can be volatile due to its fragrant properties, the fragrance components are usually removed in the leaf extract.
Rosemary Leaf Extract contains many antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid. Rosemarinic acid, a compound found in rosemary leaf, has been found to help soothe skin conditions such as eczema and acne.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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 Water