What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBetaine
HumectantHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingAcacia Farnesiana Flower Wax
Caffeine
Skin ConditioningSteareth-21
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Disodium EDTA
Escin
TonicParfum
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethiconol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlcohol
AntimicrobialHarungana Madagascariensis Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingPaullinia Cupana Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingTin Oxide
AbrasiveAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningDextran
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Betaine, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Glucoside, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Acacia Farnesiana Flower Wax, Caffeine, Steareth-21, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, CI 77891, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Disodium EDTA, Escin, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol, Harungana Madagascariensis Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Tin Oxide, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Dextran
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSd Alcohol 40-B
AstringentSorbitol
HumectantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCalcium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantXylitol
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPEG/PPG-19/19 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientErythritol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Ectoin
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPPG-3 Dipivalate
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantGeraniol
PerfumingSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
PerfumingZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Majorana Leaf Extract
AntiseborrhoeicNelumbo Nucifera Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingThymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingGanoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Sorbitol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Calcium Stearate, Xylitol, Methyl Gluceth-10, Sodium Chloride, PEG/PPG-19/19 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Erythritol, Butylene Glycol, Cellulose Gum, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Alcohol, Parfum, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Ectoin, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, PPG-3 Dipivalate, Linalool, Sodium Metabisulfite, Geraniol, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Citronellol, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Germ Extract, Hydroxyproline, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Lactobacillus/Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Ferment Filtrate, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholButylene 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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 ParfumTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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