What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Batyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Ethyl Oleate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Coconut Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Palm Oil
EmollientPEG-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingPetrolatum
EmollientSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingSucrose Stearate
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glycerin, Triethylhexanoin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Batyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Ethyl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, PEG-2 Stearate, Petrolatum, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sucrose Stearate, Methylparaben, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningBetula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientMichelia Champaca Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMucuna Birdwoodiana Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPinus Sylvestris Cone Extract
MaskingPoria Cocos Sclerotium Extract
AstringentSantalum Album Wood Extract
PerfumingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningTheanine
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantAlgin
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCholesterol
EmollientCholeth-10
EmulsifyingDiglycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium Succinate
MaskingEctoin
Skin ConditioningEthyl Oleate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientOleyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingSuccinic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Glycerin, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Adenosine, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Michelia Champaca Flower Extract, Mucuna Birdwoodiana Stem Extract, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Pinus Sylvestris Cone Extract, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Soluble Proteoglycan, Theanine, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Algin, Carbomer, Cholesterol, Choleth-10, Diglycerin, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Phosphate, Disodium Succinate, Ectoin, Ethyl Oleate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lecithin, Oleyl Alcohol, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Phosphate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Succinic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool
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 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 CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAEthyl Oleate is a fragrance and isn't fungal acne safe.
Glycerin (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 ParfumSorbitan Sesquioleate is derived from sorbitol and oleic acid. It is an emulsifier and prevents ingredients from separating.
Specifically, this ingredient is a water-in-oil emulsifier, meaning it helps water dissolve into oil.
Some studies suggest this ingredient may cause irritation in some people. If you are unsure, it is best to patch test.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan SesquioleateWater. 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