What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingArbutin
AntioxidantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentParaffin
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeButylparaben
MaskingFarnesol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Hydroxybutyramide
EmollientLinalyl Acetate
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingP-Menthanone
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Arbutin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Paraffin, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Farnesol, Linalool, Benzyl Hydroxybutyramide, Linalyl Acetate, Hexyl Cinnamal, P-Menthanone, Isoeugenol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberNiacinamide
SmoothingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCyclotetrasiloxane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantBee Venom
AstringentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberParfum
MaskingOctocrylene
UV AbsorberBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberSorbitan Palmitate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantAlumina
AbrasiveSimethicone
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Bisabolol
AntioxidantKojic Acid
AntioxidantTranexamic Acid
AstringentWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Ceteareth-12, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Bee Venom, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Parfum, Octocrylene, Benzophenone-3, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate, Titanium Dioxide, Alumina, Simethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Gluconolactone, Tetrasodium EDTA, Bisabolol, Kojic Acid, Tranexamic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients 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 GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholParfum 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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