What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phytantriol
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cyclotetrasiloxane
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Cottonseed Protein
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Fibroin
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gelatin
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Hydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acorus Calamus Root Extract
Perfuming
Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Avium Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Salvia Officinalis Extract
Antimicrobial
Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Acetic Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Water, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Behentrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Isopropyl Alcohol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Phytantriol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Cottonseed Protein, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide, Fibroin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gelatin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Propolis Extract, Prunus Avium Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Tin Oxide, Acetic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
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 GlycolCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneParfum 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
