What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Gellan Gum
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Alginate
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
Abrasive
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
BHT
Antioxidant
Diamond Powder
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Silica, Alcohol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, CI 77891, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Gellan Gum, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Calcium Alginate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, CI 77491, Tin Oxide, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, BHT, Diamond Powder, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Betaine
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Parfum
Masking
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGold
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPrunus Cerasus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningWater, Alcohol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Sorbitol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chlorphenesin, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Parfum, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cellulose Gum, Gold, Sodium Hydroxide, Prunus Cerasus Flower Extract, Lactobacillus
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 ParfumSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
