What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLauryl Glucoside
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Castanea Crenata Pellicle Extract
AntioxidantSodium Chloride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingCastanea Crenata Shell Powder
AbrasivePotassium Chloride
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCoconut Acid
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantBoswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingDisodium EDTA
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSucrose Stearate
EmollientBenzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Asiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Acrylates Copolymer, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Castanea Crenata Pellicle Extract, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Castanea Crenata Shell Powder, Potassium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coconut Acid, Potassium Cocoate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Disodium EDTA, Hexylene Glycol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sucrose Stearate, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingLauryl Betaine
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingLactobionic Acid
BufferingZinc PCA
HumectantSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract
AstringentPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningEpilobium Fleischeri Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCaulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Sea Water
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantCucumaria Frondosa Extract
AntioxidantHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningJellyfish Extract
HumectantLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingDictyopteris Polypodioides Extract
EmollientAnhydroxylitol
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingXylitol
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Lauryl Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Lactobionic Acid, Zinc PCA, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Epilobium Fleischeri Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Allantoin, Glucose, Saccharide Isomerate, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Sea Water, Xylitylglucoside, Cucumaria Frondosa Extract, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Jellyfish Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Dictyopteris Polypodioides Extract, Anhydroxylitol, Decyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Xylitol, Potassium Sorbate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideDisodium 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 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 GlycerinLauryl Glucoside sugar- and lipid-based cleansing agent. It is created from glucose and lauryl alcohol.
This ingredient is a surfactant, making it easier to rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants away.
A British study found lauryl glucoside to cause skin sensitivity for some people. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Other names for this ingredient include "Lauryl Polyglucose", "Lauryl glycoside", and "D-Glucopyranoside".
Learn more about Lauryl GlucosideParfum 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 ParfumChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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