What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Triethanolamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Yeast Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, PEG-8, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Salicylic Acid, Triethanolamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Yeast Beta-Glucan, T-Butyl Alcohol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Isohexadecane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Parfum
Masking
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Rosa Rugosa Flower Water
Masking
Glucose
Humectant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, C14-22 Alcohols, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Isohexadecane, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Parfum, Polysorbate 80, Disodium EDTA, CI 77891, Sorbitan Oleate, Rosa Rugosa Flower Water, Glucose, Tin Oxide, Sodium Hyaluronate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
