What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming4-Terpineol
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientBetaine
HumectantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantMonarda Didyma Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trehalose, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, 4-Terpineol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl Caprylate, Betaine, Arginine, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract, Mentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPetrolatum
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPEG-100 Stearate
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Bicarbonate
AbrasiveAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Kaolin, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Petrolatum, Glyceryl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PEG-100 Stearate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polysorbate 60, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Xanthan Gum, Glycosyl Trehalose, Sodium Bicarbonate, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Chlorphenesin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, O-Cymen-5-Ol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Acacia Senegal Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Cyanocobalamin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Sorbate
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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