What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polyvinyl Alcohol
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Parfum
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil
Masking
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Polyvinyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Beta-Glucan, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower, Tocopherol, Niacinamide, Parfum, Caffeine, Sodium Phytate, Gluconolactone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Salicylic Acid, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBetaine
Humectant
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Polyacrylamide
Parfum
Masking
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingXylitol
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingGlucose
Humectant
Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract
MaskingAlumina
Abrasive
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Betaine, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, CI 77891, Ceteareth-12, Phenoxyethanol, Xylitylglucoside, Polyacrylamide, Parfum, Anhydroxylitol, Carbomer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tromethamine, Xylitol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Glucose, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Alumina, Alcohol, Citric Acid, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 42090
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 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
