What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingLaureth-5 Carboxylic Acid
CleansingCocamide Mipa
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingIsostearyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPolyquaternium-10
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingAmodimethicone
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
SurfactantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingButylene Glycol
HumectantCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantBisabolol
Antioxidant2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningSafflower Glucoside
Hydroxycitronellal
PerfumingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
MaskingCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coco-Betaine, Laureth-5 Carboxylic Acid, Cocamide Mipa, Sodium Chloride, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Polyquaternium-10, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Amodimethicone, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Salicylic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Butylene Glycol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Safflower Glucoside, Hydroxycitronellal, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, BHT, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Ceramide AP
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingParfum
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingSodium PCA
HumectantPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyquaternium-22
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Dehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingHydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantPotassium Benzoate
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBHA
AntioxidantCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingWater, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Parfum, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium PCA, PEG-150 Distearate, Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-22, Chlorphenesin, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Benzoic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Potassium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, BHA, Citronellol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalParfum 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 ParfumPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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