What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Betaine
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Octyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantLimonene
Perfuming
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Xylose
HumectantDenatonium Benzoate
Masking
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Niacinamide, Betaine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Parfum, Dipropylene Glycol, Limonene, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Xylose, Denatonium Benzoate, CI 14700, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Polyacrylamide
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycereth-26, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Alcohol Denat., Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylamide, Sodium Hydroxide, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Benzophenone-4, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 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.
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Water. 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
