What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
AntimicrobialAzelaic Acid
BufferingSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantMannitol
HumectantPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantHesperidin
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPhenylpropanol
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Squalane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Bakuchiol, Azelaic Acid, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mannitol, Phosphatidylcholine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hesperidin, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-8, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Propanediol, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningUndecane
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSteareth-21
CleansingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantTridecane
PerfumingButylene Glycol
HumectantCeteareth-20
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBisabolol
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningDeschampsia Antarctica Leaf Extract
AntioxidantRetinol
Skin ConditioningHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPhenylpropanol
MaskingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantUrea
BufferingYeast Amino Acids
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrehalose
HumectantInositol
HumectantTaurine
BufferingBetaine
HumectantSilica
AbrasivePalmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
Abrasive1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBHA
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingWater, Undecane, Pentylene Glycol, Isostearyl Isostearate, Trisiloxane, Glycerin, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tridecane, Butylene Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Deschampsia Antarctica Leaf Extract, Retinol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Zea Mays Starch, Titanium Dioxide, Phenylpropanol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Mica, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Silica, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Tin Oxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 20, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, BHA, BHT, Parfum
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 GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 ParfumPhenylpropanol is a fragrance.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.
Water. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum