What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningPPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantParfum
Masking3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPrunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingAlgae Extract
EmollientChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Oenothera Biennis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Leaf Extract
EmollientRehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Niacinamide, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, PEG-14m, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Prunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, 1,2-Hexanediol, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Algae Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Glucose, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Oenothera Biennis Seed Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Potassium Hyaluronate, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantEthyl Hexanediol
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingIngredients 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium 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 ParfumWater. 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