What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Water
MaskingLauric Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientParfum
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAllantoin
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientMadecassoside
AntioxidantMonascus/Rice Ferment
AntioxidantLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin ConditioningWater, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Niacinamide, Lauryl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Parfum, Panthenol, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Propanediol, Allantoin, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Ectoin, Pentylene Glycol, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Madecassoside, Monascus/Rice Ferment, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantWater
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningEnantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingParfum
MaskingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning2,3-Butanediol
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingHouttuynia Cordata Extract, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Water, Xanthan Gum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Gluconate, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Parfum, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, 2,3-Butanediol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Glyceryl Stearate, Oleanolic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Limonene
Reviews
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
Hydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 ParfumPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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