What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientParfum
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Oil
EmollientCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeStearic Acid
CleansingDimethiconol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Dimethicone, Parfum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Stearic Acid, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingAmmonium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingSorbitol
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingMilk Protein Extract
Propolis Extract
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Sorbitol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Triethylhexanoin, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Trihydroxystearin, Citric Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Malt Extract, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Honey Extract, Caffeine, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Milk Protein Extract, Propolis Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric 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 AcidDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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.
Water. 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