What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientParfum
MaskingOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantQuaternium-91
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMyristyl Myristate
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePalmitic Acid
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientCaryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
EmollientBrassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWithania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Behenyl Alcohol, Isododecane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glyceryl Stearate, Parfum, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Quaternium-91, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Myristyl Myristate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Palmitic Acid, Tocopherol, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Caryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Fructose, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Sodium Chloride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingCoconut Acid
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Laurate
EmollientHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingQuillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingCoconut Alkanes
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCapryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide
EmulsifyingLauroyl/Myristoyl Methyl Glucamide
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Chloride, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Coconut Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propanediol, Glyceryl Laurate, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Coconut Alkanes, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Capryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide, Lauroyl/Myristoyl Methyl Glucamide, Panthenol, Maltodextrin, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is also known as neem leaf extract. It contains natural compounds like nimbidin, quercetin, and other polyphenols that give it antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activity.
Lab studies have shown neem leaf extract can inhibit acne-related bacteria and help calm skin. Animal studies on wound gels using 1-3% neem leaf extract found it sped up healing without causing irritation.
A wound-healing study testing gels with the extract at 1%, 2%, and 3% concentrations and found none of them irritated the skin.
Most commercial products also use it in a similar low range (typically under 5%).
Allergy-wise, there are some case reports on neem oil causing allergic contact dermatitis so people with plant/botanical sensitivities may want to patch test first.
Learn more about Melia Azadirachta Leaf ExtractParfum 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 PhenoxyethanolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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