What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArtemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCetylpyridinium Chloride
AntimicrobialSalicylic Acid
MaskingBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
DMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lauryl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Salicylic Acid, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Panthenol, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium Benzoate, BHT, CI 19140, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingPEG-8
HumectantMyristic Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantLauric Acid
CleansingAlcohol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-7
Parfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSericin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantWater, Stearic Acid, PEG-8, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polyquaternium-7, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sericin, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrolyzed Silk
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 “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 ParfumPotassium 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 HydroxideSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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