What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantC13-16 Isoparaffin
SolventIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Chloride
MaskingLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Parfum
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveAlumina
AbrasiveTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Propylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMagnolia Sieboldii Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
AbrasiveCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingHibiscus Militaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingHydrated Silica
AbrasiveTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Isododecane, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Niacinamide, Zinc Oxide, Sodium Chloride, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Parfum, Silica, Alumina, Tocopheryl Acetate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Magnolia Sieboldii Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ceramide NP, Tin Oxide, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Hibiscus Militaris Flower Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrated Silica, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberIsohexadecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTalc
AbrasiveIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydrogen Dimethicone
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingPropylene Carbonate
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol Stearate
EmollientParfum
MaskingMethicone
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Isohexadecane, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycerin, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Talc, Isononyl Isononanoate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Oleate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethiconol Stearate, Parfum, Methicone, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, CI 77492, CI 77491
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 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 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 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 77492Disodium 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 EDTADisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecaneIsononyl Isononanoate is a synthetic skin-conditioner and texture enhancer. It is created from nonanoic acid, a fatty acid found in cocoa and lavender oil.
As an emollient, Isononyl Isononanoate helps keep your skin soft and smooth. This is because emollients create a barrier on the skin to trap moisture in.
Isononyl Isononanoate helps give products a velvet feel and improves spreadability.
Learn more about Isononyl IsononanoateParfum 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.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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