What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingMaris Aqua
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLactic Acid
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMalachite Extract
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasiveHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingSodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingUrea
BufferingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
BufferingPantolactone
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Maris Aqua, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Lactic Acid, Panthenol, Malachite Extract, Silica, Hexyl Cinnamal, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Limonene, Linalool, Urea, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Alcohol, Allantoin, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Citric Acid, Pantolactone, Algae Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Stearic Acid
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantUrea
BufferingTrehalose
HumectantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningTriacetin
AntimicrobialMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Carbonate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCitronellol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Allantoin, Sodium PCA, Urea, Trehalose, Polyquaternium-51, Triacetin, Myristyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, CI 17200, CI 15985, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizingg properties. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.
Studies show higher concentrations of this ingredient can promote wound healing.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Learn more about AllantoinEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalLimonene 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 LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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.
Urea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Learn more about UreaWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water