What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCocamide Methyl Mea
SurfactantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSoluble Collagen
HumectantSqualane
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
EmollientCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingKeratin
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCitric Acid
BufferingPPG-7
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeMenthol
MaskingParfum
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPolyquaternium-10
Polyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningWater, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate, Glycerin, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Panthenol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Soluble Collagen, Squalane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Keratin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Arginine, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, PPG-7, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Menthol, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-10, Polyquaternium-47
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeStearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAmodimethicone
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingHoney
HumectantHoney Extract
HumectantHydrolyzed Honey Protein
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Collagen Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol
Skin ConditioningKeratin
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyquaternium-61
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningCerebrosides
EmollientSodium Carboxymethyl Hyaluronate
HumectantZymomonas Ferment Extract
HumectantCarum Carvi Seed Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialViola Odorata Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingOzonized Sunflower Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantOctyldodecanol
EmollientC9-11 Alkyl Glucoside
CleansingAminopropyl Dimethicone
Dimethicone
EmollientCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Amodimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Honey, Honey Extract, Hydrolyzed Honey Protein, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol, Keratin, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyquaternium-61, Royal Jelly, Royal Jelly Extract, Propolis Extract, Cerebrosides, Sodium Carboxymethyl Hyaluronate, Zymomonas Ferment Extract, Carum Carvi Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Viola Odorata Flower/Leaf Extract, Ozonized Sunflower Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Octyldodecanol, C9-11 Alkyl Glucoside, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Caramel, Isopropyl Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Reviews
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinKeratin is a protein naturally found in our hair and skin.
In haircare, it has been shown to seal broken cuticles. This can help prevent breakage and split ends.
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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolThis is a botanical extract from the rosemary plant (the same one you cook with). In skincare, it mostly works as a skin conditioning agent.
Its activity comes from a handful of polyphenols, carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. Almost 90% of the antioxidant activity of this ingredient can be attributed to canosol and carnosic acid.
These compounds protect your skin two ways:
1) They fight off free radicals, or the unstable molecules from things like sun and pollution that age and damage skin.
2) They help calm inflammation by switching off the chemical signals that tell skin to get red and irritated.
Lab studies also suggest that rosmarinic acid may help protect collagen and slow sugar-related damage to it.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
Rosemary can occasionally cause allergic contact dermatitis (due to carnosol), so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractWater. 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