What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientMyristic Acid
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantLauric Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycol Distearate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingParfum
MaskingAmylopectin
Dextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantBackhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract
AstringentPolylysine
Hexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Palmitic Acid, Myristic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycol Distearate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Parfum, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Polylysine, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingDimethiconol
EmollientCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningSelenium Sulfide
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycol Distearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyquaternium-10
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHoney Extract
HumectantLaureth-4
EmulsifyingLaureth-23
CleansingAmodimethicone
PEG-55 Stearate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingTea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingCeteareth-7
EmulsifyingCeteareth-25
CleansingAcid Blue 9
Cosmetic ColorantArginine
MaskingUrea
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingOrnithine Hcl
Skin ConditioningLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningArginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingWater, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Dimethiconol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Acrylates Copolymer, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Selenium Sulfide, Cocamide Mea, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-10, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Honey Extract, Laureth-4, Laureth-23, Amodimethicone, PEG-55 Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Ceteareth-7, Ceteareth-25, Acid Blue 9, Arginine, Urea, Sodium Lactate, Ornithine Hcl, Lysine Hcl, Arginine Hcl, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactic Acid
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 GlycolCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycol Distearate serves as a pearlizing or opacifying agent in cosmetic products.
It's often included in cleansers and haircare products to give them a lustrous or shimmering appearance.
It is derived from stearic acid, a natural fatty acid commonly found in vegetable oils and animal fats.
Glycol Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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