What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin ConditioningRedensyl
Baicalin
AntioxidantCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialKeratin
Skin ConditioningPalmeth-2
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater
Skin ConditioningOleth-20
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantPolyquaternium-11
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientStyrene/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Oleth-20, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Zinc Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-11, Polysorbate 20, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
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.
Sodium 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