What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyimide-1
Parfum
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Pisum Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Sea Salt
Abrasive
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Water, Alcohol Denat., Polysorbate 20, Benzyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyimide-1, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Soluble Collagen, Dehydroacetic Acid, Pisum Sativum Sprout Extract, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Glycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Sea Salt, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Biotin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citronellol, Eugenol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Arginine
Masking
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Melatonin
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhosphate Buffered Saline
SolventWithania Somnifera Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Maltodextrin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Alcohol, Arginine, Phospholipids, Lactic Acid, Melatonin, Potassium Sorbate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Pisum Sativum Extract, Phosphate Buffered Saline, Withania Somnifera Seed Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholChondrus Crispus Extract comes from a red algae native to the northern Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America. It helps hydrate the skin and is rich in antioxidants.
The antioxidants in chondrus crispus include lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein has the ability to filter blue light from screens.
Other contents of chondrus crispus include polysaccharides, peptides, and amino acids. These help hydrate the skin.
What's the difference between algae and seaweed?
Algae is a broad term that includes seaweed. Not all algae is seaweed.
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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePotassium 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 SorbateWater. 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
