What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Isohexadecane
EmollientParfum
Masking
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water, Dimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Boron Nitride, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Isononyl Isononanoate, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Isohexadecane, Parfum, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Cocoate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDi-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlucose
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Decyl Cocoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Caprylyl Methicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Carbomer, Glucose, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Glyceryl Caprylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Palmitic Acid, Tromethamine, Aluminum Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77891, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolParfum 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
