What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentVinegar
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingQuaternium-80
Amodimethicone
Sorbitol
HumectantCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningOctanediol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Alcohol Denat., Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Vinegar, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Glycerin, C12-14 Pareth-12, Quaternium-80, Amodimethicone, Sorbitol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Trideceth-12, Pentylene Glycol, Octanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantAmmonium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCocamide Methyl Mea
SurfactantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSorbitol
HumectantRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentVinegar
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingHydroxylated Lanolin
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Sulfate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLaureth-2
CleansingPolyquaternium-10
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Lanolate
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingLaureth-3
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Acetate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-55
Octanediol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycerin, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sorbitol, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Vinegar, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Coco-Glucoside, Hydroxylated Lanolin, Sodium Chloride, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Citrate, Laureth-2, Polyquaternium-10, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Lanolate, Citric Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Laureth-3, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-55, Octanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
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.
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 preservatives
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis extract comes from the Roselle flower, or Hibiscus Sabdariffa. Roselle flowers are rich in antioxidants.
Studies found the antioxidants in Roselle flowers to potentially help reduce UV-B damage.
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract comes from the flowers and leaves of the lavender plant. It's mostly used in skincare for its scent plus a bit of skin conditioning properties.
Lab research credits it with soothing, antioxidant, and wound-supporting effects. This is largely thanks to a compound called rosmarinic acid.
Rosmarinic acid has been shown to calm inflammation signaling in skin cells (the same pathways that flare up in conditions like eczema and psoriasis). It also has real antimicrobial and antifungal activity in test-tube studies.
This ingredient is typically used in low concentrations (generally well under 1%) where it acts as a light fragrance + mild skin soother extract.
The main thing to know is that lavender contains two naturally fragrant molecules: Linalool and Linalyl Acetate. Some people's skin does perfectly fine with fragrance while others don't.
Just be sure to patch test if you have reactive skin or known plant allergies.
Linalool and Linalyl Acetate are gentle when fresh but oxidize into compounds that can cause allergic contact dermatitis when exposed to air. Patch-test studies of patients already being investigated for skin allergies found about 5-7% of patients had reactions to oxidized linalool, and 2.8% of patients reacted to oxidized lavender oil.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia ExtractLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract comes from the Tea Tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, Myrtaceae. This tea tree is native to Australia.
Tea Leaf extract contains antimicrobial and anti-acne properties.
This ingredient has perfuming properties and contains linalool and limonene. These fragrance and terpinen components can cause skin sensitivity.
Learn more about the benefits of Tea Tree Oil here.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf ExtractWe don't have a description for Octanediol yet.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolThis is a botanical extract from the rosemary plant (the same one you cook with). In skincare, it mostly works as a skin conditioning agent.
Its activity comes from a handful of polyphenols, carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. Almost 90% of the antioxidant activity of this ingredient can be attributed to canosol and carnosic acid.
These compounds protect your skin two ways:
1) They fight off free radicals, or the unstable molecules from things like sun and pollution that age and damage skin.
2) They help calm inflammation by switching off the chemical signals that tell skin to get red and irritated.
Lab studies also suggest that rosmarinic acid may help protect collagen and slow sugar-related damage to it.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
Rosemary can occasionally cause allergic contact dermatitis (due to carnosol), so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractWe don't have a description for Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract yet.
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate is the watery, nutrient-rich liquid left over after you ferment a yeast (genus Saccharomyces).
The yeast cells themselves are filtered out so you're getting the "broth" of skin-friendly molecules: amino acids, peptides, minerals, vitamins, organic acids, and beta-glucan.
Evidence-wise, its relatives (like Galactomyces) are the ones with the most published lab work. Keratinocyte studies show these ferments can boost barrier-related markers. This ingredient is generally assumed to behave similarly thanks to its overlapping composition.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its a fermentation filtrate. The exact composition is batch-variable and can include fatty acids and lipids byproducts.
Learn more about Saccharomyces Ferment FiltrateSorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a hydrating and moisturizing agent created from the reduction process of glucose.
Most sorbitol is usually made from potato starch. It is also found in fruits such as apples and pears.
As a humectant, Sorbitol helps draw water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. Sorbitol also helps create a thicker texture in products. You might find sorbitol in your toothpaste and other gels.
It is a non-irritating ingredient that is great for those with dry skin.
Sorbitol is a prebiotic. It helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria on your skin. The bacteria on your skin form a microbiome. This microbiome helps protect your skin from infection and harmful bacteria.
Learn more about SorbitolIn cosmetics, vinegar is often used to help adjust the pH of a product. It is also a light exfoliant. The pH of your skin is important to maintain a healthy skin barrier.
Vinegar is created by the process of double-fermentation. It is an aqueous solution consisting mostly of water and acetic acid. Typically, vinegar contains anywhere from 5-8% acetic acid.
Other components include small amounts of contains small amounts of tartaric acid and citric acid. Depending on what is used to ferment the vinegar, it can have traces of flavoring as well.
Learn more about VinegarWater. 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