What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCellulose
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Trehalose
HumectantPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantGlycolic Acid
BufferingSucrose
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeIndole Acetic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Cellulose, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Potassium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Trehalose, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Glycolic Acid, Sucrose, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Prunus Mume Flower Extract, Propanediol, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Indole Acetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantMyristic Acid
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingLaureth-4 Carboxylic Acid
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCellulose
AbsorbentZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingLaureth-6 Carboxylic Acid
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingMagnesium Potassium Fluorosilicate
AbrasiveSodium Ma/Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer
Palmitic Acid
EmollientParfum
MaskingPolyquaternium-7
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
PEG-6
HumectantPolyquaternium-39
PEG-65m
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingBentonite
AbsorbentBetaine
HumectantBHT
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sorbitol, Myristic Acid, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Laureth-4 Carboxylic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cellulose, Zea Mays Starch, Potassium Hydroxide, Laureth-6 Carboxylic Acid, Lauric Acid, Magnesium Potassium Fluorosilicate, Sodium Ma/Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer, Palmitic Acid, Parfum, Polyquaternium-7, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, PEG-6, Polyquaternium-39, PEG-65m, Arginine, Bentonite, Betaine, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77491, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCellulose 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 CelluloseDisodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinParfum 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.
Potassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideWater. 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