What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-32
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Parfum
Masking
Polyquaternium-7
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Camellia Sinensis Root Extract
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Stearic Acid, PEG-32, Potassium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Lauric Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Parfum, Polyquaternium-7, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Alcohol, Camellia Sinensis Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Chloride
Masking
Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium EDTA
Pentasodium Triphosphate
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate, Glycerin, Panthenol, Cocamide Mea, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Trisodium EDTA, Pentasodium Triphosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Propanediol, Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Beta-Glucan, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Phytosphingosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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.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
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxidePropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
