What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPolyglyceryl-5 Laurate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingLecithin
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Disodium EDTA
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingTin Oxide
AbrasiveAlumina
AbrasiveHexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-5 Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Carbomer, Parfum, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Disodium EDTA, Mica, Sodium Hydroxide, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Tin Oxide, Alumina, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate, CI 77891, CI 77491
Betaine
HumectantPorphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCentaurium Erythraea Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Squalane
EmollientCommiphora Mukul Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientDehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingDecarboxy Carnosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
PEG-8
HumectantParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantBetaine, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Caffeine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Glycerin, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centaurium Erythraea Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Squalane, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Micrococcus Lysate, Lecithin, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Sorbitan Olivate, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, PEG-8, Parfum, Limonene, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77499, CI 17200, CI 15985
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinLimonene 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 LimoneneMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaParfum 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.