What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantOrchid Extract
Skin ConditioningCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Parfum
MaskingTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveC13-15 Alkane
SolventChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSorbitol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgin
MaskingMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingAnigozanthos Flavidus Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantTropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
EmulsifyingTrimethylolpropane Triisostearate
EmollientPropyl Gallate
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Methylpropanediol, Betaine, Diglycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Orchid Extract, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Parfum, Triheptanoin, Carbomer, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, C13-15 Alkane, Chlorphenesin, Sorbitol, Sodium Hydroxide, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Algin, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Adenosine, Sodium Benzoate, Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Cellulose Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, CI 77891, Tocopherol, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Propyl Gallate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMaltitol
HumectantPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMenthoxypropanediol
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentNymphaea Odorata Root Extract
RefreshingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingViola Tricolor Extract
EmollientSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Maltitol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Menthoxypropanediol, Citronellol, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Nymphaea Odorata Root Extract, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Viola Tricolor Extract, Sodium Carrageenan, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Maris Sal, BHT, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 14700, CI 42090, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Malva Sylvestris Extract yet.
Parfum 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 is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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 HydroxideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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