What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hemp Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantLentinus Edodes Extract
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Pvp, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Hemp Seed Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-69
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Keratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Lactobacillus/Tomato Fruit Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Acyl Coenzyme A Desaturase
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Polyquaternium-69, Pvp, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Keratin Amino Acids, Oryza Sativa Extract, Lactobacillus/Tomato Fruit Ferment Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Acyl Coenzyme A Desaturase, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Pvp is a water-soluble synthetic polymer and common hairstyling ingredient. It is a film-forming ingredient and used to "hold" specific shapes of hair.
In cosmetics, PVP helps products like sunscreens and color cosmetics last longer and wear more evenly.
It is less effective in high-humidity. It tends to draw moisture, but this moisture dismantles the structure and "hold".
PVP is generally well tolerated on skin and toxicity studies are negative for dermal irritation.
Learn more about PvpSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
