What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Xylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Carbomer, Octyldodeceth-16, Tromethamine, Adenosine, Glycerin, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Xylitol, Glucose, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, CI 42090, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, CI 19140, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantChondrus Crispus Powder
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingArbutin
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantPropylparaben
PreservativePEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCalcium Lactate
AstringentParfum
MaskingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Butylene Glycol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Dipropylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben, Cellulose Gum, Arbutin, Disodium EDTA, CI 77492, Propylparaben, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Calcium Lactate, Parfum, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium 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 ParfumWater. 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