What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sh-Oligopeptide-78
Surfactant
Palmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingArginine
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyquaternium-10
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer, Propanediol, Pvp, Polysorbate 20, Benzyl Alcohol, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sh-Oligopeptide-78, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Arginine, Glycerin, Levulinic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyquaternium-10, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPhyllostachys Bambusoides Extract
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Artocarpus Heterophyllus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Phytate
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Phyllostachys Bambusoides Extract, Pisum Sativum Peptide, Maltodextrin, Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer, Pvp, Polysorbate 20, Parfum, Artocarpus Heterophyllus Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Phytate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Citronellol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinWe don't have a description for Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer yet.
Parfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePvp is a water-soluble synthetic polymer and common hairstyling ingredient. It is a film-forming ingredient and used to "hold" specific shapes of hair.
In cosmetics, PVP helps products like sunscreens and color cosmetics last longer and wear more evenly.
It is less effective in high-humidity. It tends to draw moisture, but this moisture dismantles the structure and "hold".
PVP is generally well tolerated on skin and toxicity studies are negative for dermal irritation.
Learn more about PvpWater. 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
