What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-32
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentButylene Glycol
HumectantPoloxamer 407
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHaberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingBHT
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-32, Sodium Citrate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ascorbyl Glucoside, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cellulose Gum, Parfum, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Butylene Glycol, Poloxamer 407, Citric Acid, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hyaluronic Acid, Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, BHT
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOleyl Erucate
EmollientCamellia Japonica Flower Water
Skin ConditioningFaex
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oleyl Erucate, Camellia Japonica Flower Water, Faex, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Carbomer, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Triheptanoin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, C13-15 Alkane, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, CI 42090
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 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 GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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