What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientArginine
MaskingSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate-13
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Polyisobutene
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventGeraniol
PerfumingMethyl Lactate
PerfumingMentha Haplocalix Extract
MaskingGlucose
HumectantTuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Phenylalanine
MaskingTropolone
Skin ConditioningTryptophan
MaskingThreonine
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingCystine
MaskingGlutamine
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingMethionine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantHistidine
HumectantLeucine
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingAsparagine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Carbomer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Arginine, Synthetic Beeswax, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Panthenol, Palmitic Acid, C14-22 Alcohols, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Parfum, Adenosine, Polyacrylate-13, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Polyisobutene, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linalool, Limonene, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Propanediol, Geraniol, Methyl Lactate, Mentha Haplocalix Extract, Glucose, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Isoleucine, Glutathione, Phenylalanine, Tropolone, Tryptophan, Threonine, Copper Tripeptide-1, Valine, Cystine, Glutamine, Glycine, Serine, Methionine, Alanine, Proline, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Histidine, Leucine, Aspartic Acid, Asparagine, Tyrosine
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGlucose
HumectantHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), C14-22 Alcohols, Carbomer, Tromethamine, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Linalool, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, Glucose, Hexyl Cinnamal, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
We don't have a description for C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside yet.
C14-22 Alcohols is made up of synthetic fatty alcohols. More specifically, these fatty alcohols contain 14 to 22 carbons in the alkyl chain.
Its main purpose is to stabilize products. As an emulsifier, it helps prevent waters and oils from separating.
Due to this ingredient having a similar composition to cetearyl alcohol, this ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis safe. However, the risk is low and has been only shown by a single study, so SkinSort does not currently flag C14-22 Alcohols as a fungal acne trigger.
Learn more about C14-22 AlcoholsCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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 ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Ā
Itās 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