What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingParfum
MaskingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingDimethiconol
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialTea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingChrysanthemum Boreale Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMenthol
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Tetrasodium EDTA
Niacinamide
SmoothingBiota Orientalis Leaf Extract
HumectantMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPinus Sylvestris Cone Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingLauramine Oxide
CleansingArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialCoptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialAloe Ferox Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Parfum, Cocamide Mea, Sodium Chloride, Dimethiconol, Alcohol, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Chrysanthemum Boreale Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Sodium Citrate, Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Glycerin, Menthol, Disodium EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Biota Orientalis Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Pinus Sylvestris Cone Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Lauramine Oxide, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Coptis Japonica Extract, Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBehenamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientParaffin
PerfumingPPG-1/PEG-1 Stearamine
AntimicrobialPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone
Behenyl Pg-Trimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
PreservativeHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeOryza Sativa Germ Oil
EmollientBis-Isobutyl PEG-14/Amodimethicone Copolymer
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
HumectantLaureth-4
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingLaureth-23
CleansingPEG-55 Stearate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCamellia Japonica Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBelamcanda Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Flower Extract
PerfumingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Parfum, Lactic Acid, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Paraffin, PPG-1/PEG-1 Stearamine, Phenyl Trimethicone, Amodimethicone, Behenyl Pg-Trimonium Chloride, Methylparaben, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Behenyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Steartrimonium Chloride, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Bis-Isobutyl PEG-14/Amodimethicone Copolymer, Caramel, Butylene Glycol, Laureth-4, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Laureth-23, PEG-55 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Camellia Japonica Seed Extract, Belamcanda Chinensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Tocopherol
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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