What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
PerfumingPolymethyl Methacrylate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingThymol Trimethoxycinnamate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantMadecassoside
AntioxidantCitral
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Methyl Trimethicone, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Olivate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Limonene, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Parfum, Thymol Trimethoxycinnamate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Citrate, Linalool, Tocopherol, Madecassoside, Citral, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveLitchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Calcium Chloride
AstringentPCA
HumectantMannitol
HumectantArginine
MaskingSerine
MaskingSucrose
HumectantManganese Sulfate
Skin ConditioningGlycogen
HumectantCitrulline
Skin ConditioningHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Alanine
MaskingLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Aluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantAlumina
AbrasiveStearic Acid
CleansingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Titanium Dioxide, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Silica, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Beta-Glucan, Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Chloride, PCA, Mannitol, Arginine, Serine, Sucrose, Manganese Sulfate, Glycogen, Citrulline, Histidine Hcl, Threonine, Alanine, Lysine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, Zinc Sulfate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Aluminum Stearate, Alumina, Stearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Glycerin, Propanediol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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
Disodium 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 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 ParfumPropanediol 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 PropanediolSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateWater. 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