What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Olive Oil Lauryl Esters
Emulsion StabilisingSqualene
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
EmollientPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Lauryl Esters, Squalene, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Diisostearyl Malate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Jojoba Esters, Water, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Adenosine, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Propanediol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dextrin, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
EmollientLagerstroemia Indica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
AstringentPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Lagerstroemia Indica Flower Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, Disodium EDTA, 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.
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 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 EthylhexylglycerinThis ingredient is also known as prickly pear seed oil (PPSO); it's one of the more nutritionally dense plant oils you can find in cosmetics.
Its fatty acid profile is dominated by linoleic acid (57-65%), followed by oleic (16-22%), and palmitic (12-16%).
That high linoleic acid content is a big deal for skin. Linoleic acid is a key component of the skin's own lipid barrier and this combination is associated with improved skin hydration + barrier repair.
PPSO also contains some phytosterols and is exceptionally rich in tocopherols (vitamin E). The phytosterols contribute to anti-inflammatory activity and the tocopherols provide meaningful antioxidant protection.
Animal studies have shown that topical application of PPSO reduced edema formation and inflammatory cell infiltration; this supports its traditional use for wound healing and skin inflammation.
In vitro studies, preclinical, and clinical evidence all point to a very low toxicity profile for this ingredient.
Typical use levels range from 1-100% :
Fungal acne: The Malassezia species can metabolize fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-24. Linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acid fall into this range, making PPSO not fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed OilThis ingredient comes from the stem of the Prickly Pear cactus. The stem is rich in polyphenols, a potent source of antioxidants. It is anti-aging and soothing properties.
Prickly Pear stem is made up mostly of water (85%). The rest is composed of skin nourishing compounds: protein, fiber, fatty acid, simple sugars, Vitamin C, and some minerals.
Polyphenols help mitigate the effects of aging. Studies show polyphenols protect the skin from oxidative stress, UV-induced damage, and inflammation.
Prickly pear is often compared to Aloe.
Learn more about Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem ExtractParfum 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 PhenoxyethanolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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