What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialTriethylhexanoin
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantHaberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningAkebia Trifoliata Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCholesterol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventOleic Acid
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Triethylhexanoin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract, Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Lactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Akebia Trifoliata Stem Extract, Yeast Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Betaine, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Dimethiconol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Parfum, Carbomer, Cholesterol, Propanediol, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingCamellia Kissi Seed Oil
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBoron Nitride
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingHydrochloric Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Oligopeptide
CleansingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Camellia Kissi Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Boron Nitride, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Silk, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Phytic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Hydrochloric Acid, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, CI 14700, CI 19140
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholButylene 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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetearyl Glucoside is a sugar-based emulsifier. It is usually made by combining cetearyl alcohol and glucose.
Belonging to the aklyl polyglucoside (APG) family, Cetearyl Glucoside has a sugar "head" that loves water and a fatty "tail" that loves oil. This means it can shuffle oil and water into a stable and smooth emulsion.
Typical use levels are between 1-5% and this ingredient is considered to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel Review.
Once applied, your skin's glucoside hydrolases breaks it down to the parent fatty alcohol and glucose. This is why this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl GlucosideDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the âgoodâ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTriethylhexanoin is created from glycerin and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It is a solvent and emollient.
As a solvent, Triethylhexanoin helps dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
It is also an emollient and helps condition the skin.
Learn more about TriethylhexanoinWater. 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