What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyacrylic Acid
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningSciadopitys Verticillata Root Extract
AntimicrobialPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAbronia Villosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Coccinellifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Americana Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningYucca Brevifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningFouquieria Splendens Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLarrea Tridentata Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantTamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf Extract
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveNasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylic Acid, Dimethicone, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Sciadopitys Verticillata Root Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, Cellulose Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Oenothera Biennis Root Extract, Abronia Villosa Leaf Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Flower Extract, Agave Americana Stem Extract, Yucca Brevifolia Root Extract, Fouquieria Splendens Stem Extract, Larrea Tridentata Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Trehalose, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Lecithin, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf Extract, Silica, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyquaternium-51, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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
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
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium 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 GlycerinParfum 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