What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCalamine
AbsorbentSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGlycol Distearate
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingGlycol Stearate
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Chloride, Calamine, Sorbitan Olivate, Glycol Distearate, Salicylic Acid, Glycol Stearate, Citric Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Tocopherol, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingOriganum Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Origanum Vulgare Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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