What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Acrylates Copolymer
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bentonite
Absorbent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Paullinia Cupana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSchinus Terebinthifolia Seed Extract
AstringentPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Vanillyl Butyl Ether
MaskingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Carbonate
BufferingParfum
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Stearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Acrylates Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bentonite, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Paullinia Cupana Fruit Extract, Schinus Terebinthifolia Seed Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Carbonate, Parfum, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, CI 15985, CI 19140, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBougainvillea Spectabilis Leaf Cell Extract
Antioxidant
Sphacelaria Scoparia Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Spirulina Platensis Powder
Skin ProtectingSodium Phytate
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Arginine
Masking
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Coenzyme A
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C15-19 Alkane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, C14-22 Alcohols, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Bougainvillea Spectabilis Leaf Cell Extract, Sphacelaria Scoparia Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Spirulina Platensis Powder, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Arginine, Xylitylglucoside, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caffeine, Coenzyme A, Biotin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Isostearate, Anhydroxylitol, Glucose, Xylitol, PEG-8, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 60, Parfum, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Palmitic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHexyl 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 CinnamalLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
