What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasiveBentonite
AbsorbentStearic Acid
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingCeteareth-20
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Kaolin, Bentonite, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, PEG-40 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Tocopherol, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 15850
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantIllite
AbrasiveMontmorillonite
AbsorbentBetaine
HumectantKaolin
AbrasiveCalcite
Skin ConditioningSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingSea Salt
AbrasiveParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeBlue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantIngredients 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 GlycerinKaolin is a clay. It is used for oil control and to help minimize pores. Like other clays, kaolin has the ability to absorb excess sebum or oil. This can help clean out pores and mattify the skin.
Some types of kaolin may have exfoliating properties. When water is added to kaolin, it becomes a paste with small abrasive particles.
Most kaolin is a white color, but may be pink/orange/red depending on where it comes from.
The name 'kaolin' comes from a Chinese village named 'Gaoling'. Kaolin clay comes from rocks rich in kaolinite. Kaolinite, the mineral, has a silicate layered structure. Kaolinite is formed from chemical weathering of aluminum siilicate minerals.
Besides skincare, kaolin is commonly used to make glossy paper, in ceramics, toothpaste, and as medicine to soothe stomach issues.
Learn more about KaolinParfum 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