What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyester-5
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
AntioxidantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentPvp
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-2 Oleate
EmulsifyingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningOctanediol
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Polyester-5, Alcohol Denat., Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Pvp, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Octyldodeceth-16, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Octanediol, Methylpropanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingDiisostearyl Malate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Methylpropanediol
SolventPolyether-1
Squalane
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingDimethiconol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantParfum
MaskingVinyldimethicone
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Diisostearyl Malate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Methicone, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylyl Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Methylpropanediol, Polyether-1, Squalane, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Dimethiconol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Adenosine, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Tocopherol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Allantoin, Ectoin, Caffeine, Panthenol, Sorbitan Laurate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Dna, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Parfum, Vinyldimethicone, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Ceramide NP, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Seed Extract comes from the seed of the wild soybean plant. Wild soybean extract contains fatty acids (linoleic, oleic, linolenic), vitamin E, and antioxidants.
The wild soybean contains soyasaponins, a bioactive compound. Soyasaponins have inflammatory, antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial properties. Soyasaponin has also been found to inhibit the melanin-creation process.
Two powerful components found in the wild soybean include genistein and diadzein. These two isoflavones are potent antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. Genistein in particular has been found to prevent redness caused by UV exposure.
One study from South Korea found wild soybean extract to help promote hair growth at the cellular level.
The wild soybean plant is a cousin to the famous soybean that gives us tofu, soy milk, and soy sauce.
Learn more about Glycine Soja Seed ExtractMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolParfum 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 ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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