What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingCera Alba
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Honey
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Coumarin
Perfuming
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Cera Alba, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Honey, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Hexylene Glycol, Benzyl Benzoate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Coumarin
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Malva Sylvestris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPlukenetia Volubilis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Panthenol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Allantoin, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Malva Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolWe don't have a description for Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate yet.
Hexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene 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 ParfumChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate is an organic salt with a naturally sweet odor. It is an alternative to traditional sulfates and is commonly found in "sulfate-free" products.
In cosmetics, this ingredient is used to increase the volume of foam, emulsify ingredients, and as a cleansing agent.
As a cleansing agent, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate helps reduce the surface tension of dirt, oil, and other pollutants so they can be rinsed away easily.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review found this ingredient to irritate the eyes and skin in concentrations of 0.18% and 0.7%.
Learn more about Sodium Lauryl SulfoacetateWe don't have a description for Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate yet.
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 Water
