What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantAdansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentTriethanolamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf, Water, Glycereth-26, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Triethanolamine, Allantoin, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Methylparaben
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingSodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolianthes Tuberosa Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Betaine, Methyl Gluceth-20, Sorbitol, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Methylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Carbomer, Parfum, Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Polianthes Tuberosa Polysaccharide, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene 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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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