What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Wax
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingSoy Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingThreonine
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingHistidine
HumectantIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Synthetic Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetyl Palmitate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium PCA, Glycerin, Sodium Lactate, Soy Amino Acids, Wheat Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Serine, Threonine, Arginine Hcl, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Alanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Histidine, Isoleucine, Glutamic Acid, Phenylalanine, Proline, Valine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrated Silica
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCreatine
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingParfum
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Sulfate
Benzophenone-4
UV AbsorberHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydrated Silica, Glycerin, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Betaine, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Hexapeptide-11, Panthenol, Creatine, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Synthetic Wax, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Coco-Glucoside, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Sulfate, Benzophenone-4, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, CI 73360, CI 77891, CI 17200
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolThis ingredient is a plant-derived protein made by breaking down wheat proteins into smaller amino acids and peptides. It has skin and hair conditioning properties.
People with known wheat allergy or a history of immediate reactions should be cautious with leave-on products containing hydrolyzed wheat proteins.
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 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSynthetic Wax is created from fossil fuels such as natural gas. It is used to enhance texture, adjust pH, and as an occlusive.
It may also be used as an abrasive ingredient to exfoliate the skin.
Synthetic Wax may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxWater. 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