What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMyristic Acid
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycol Distearate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingPolyquaternium-22
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPropanediol
SolventParfum
MaskingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAcrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantTetrasodium EDTA
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAcorus Calamus Root Extract
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Polyquaternium-22, Lauryl Glucoside, Propanediol, Parfum, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, Acorus Calamus Root Extract
Paraffinum Liquidum
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantPetrolatum
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCera Alba
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientParfum
MaskingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeLinalool
PerfumingParaffinum Liquidum, Water, Propylene Glycol, Petrolatum, Isopropyl Myristate, Polysorbate 60, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beeswax, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Carbomer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Cera Alba, Ceramide NP, Daucus Carota Sativa Root, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Parfum, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Linalool
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 GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPDisodium 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 Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum