What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium PCA
HumectantPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentMannitol
HumectantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
BufferingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningMalic Acid
BufferingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingTartaric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium PCA, Potassium Cocoate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, DMDM Hydantoin, Gluconolactone, Zea Mays Starch, Mannitol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Mica, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Malic Acid, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Tartaric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, CI 77891, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCetearyl Olivate
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingLecithin
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentGlycerin
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBHT
AntioxidantTetrasodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Octocrylene, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Cetearyl Olivate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin, Salicylic Acid, Lecithin, Sorbitan Olivate, Xanthan Gum, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propylene Glycol, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Polysorbate 60, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, BHT, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium 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 a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water