What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSteartrimonium Methosulfate
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCellulose
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientJuglans Regia Shell Powder
AbrasiveGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningCellulose
AbsorbentAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDimocarpus Longan Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLitchi Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentMannitol
HumectantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingVelvet Extract
HumectantChaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
AntioxidantTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
PerfumingCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingDiospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingTrisodium EDTA
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Nobilis Peel Extract
MaskingEugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract
PerfumingFoeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract
EmollientNardostachys Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSantalum Album Wood Extract
PerfumingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantAgastache Rugosa Extract
AntimicrobialPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Nut Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAtractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientAmpelopsis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTribulus Terrestris Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBelamcanda Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicPlatycodon Grandiflorus Root Extract
AntioxidantPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract
Skin ConditioningSchizonepeta Tenuifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentTrichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract
Skin ProtectingTussilago Farfara Flower Extract
AstringentLygodium Japonicum Spore
AbrasiveWater, Cellulose, Alcohol Denat., Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Dimocarpus Longan Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Zea Mays Starch, Mannitol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Morus Alba Bark Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Velvet Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Trisodium EDTA, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Citrus Nobilis Peel Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract, Nardostachys Chinensis Root Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, CI 77492, Agastache Rugosa Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, CI 77891, Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ampelopsis Japonica Root Extract, Tribulus Terrestris Fruit Extract, Belamcanda Chinensis Root Extract, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Platycodon Grandiflorus Root Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract, Schizonepeta Tenuifolia Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Trichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract, Tussilago Farfara Flower Extract, Lygodium Japonicum Spore
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
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.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 GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract is derived from the leaves of the tea plant. Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from this plant.
This ingredient has many skin benefits:
This ingredient contains polyphenols, a strong antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off molecules that damage skin cells.
On top of that, the antioxidants in green tea neutralize free-radicals from the sun. This gives the skin some extra UV protection, but should not replace sunscreen.
Many components of tea have anti-inflammatory properties.
Polyphenols and L-theanine help soothe the skin and reduce irritation. The caffeine in Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract helps calm inflamed blood vessels.
Other compounds found in tea include: Vitamin Bs, linoleic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.
Research has shown both drinking Camellia Sinensis Leaf Tea and applying it to the skin can help boost skin elasticity and hydration. Studies also show using tea extract may reduce sebum, or oil, production.
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls. It is used as an emulsifier, absorbent, and texture enhancer.
This ingredient has many functions:
Fun fact: Cellulose is the most abundant form of organic polymer on Earth.
Learn more about CelluloseGlycerin 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 “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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water