What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-20 Sorbitan Cocoate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingMethylparaben
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingTilia Cordata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
AstringentAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, PEG-20 Sorbitan Cocoate, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Potassium Hydroxide, Methylparaben, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, CI 19140, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingPEG-400
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-6
HumectantPEG-32
HumectantPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingTheanine
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingTrehalose
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Disodium EDTA
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingThiotaurine
AntioxidantSodium PCA
HumectantAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingBHT
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentTin Oxide
AbrasiveSaccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantResveratrol
AntioxidantPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicGold
Cosmetic ColorantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Alcohol, Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Mica, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, PEG-400, PEG-6, PEG-32, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyvinyl Alcohol, CI 77891, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Parfum, Theanine, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Metaphosphate, Trehalose, Potassium Hydroxide, CI 77491, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Thiotaurine, Sodium PCA, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Glycine, BHT, Hydrolyzed Silk, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Tin Oxide, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Tocopherol, Resveratrol, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Gold, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDipropylene 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 ‘good’ 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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 ParfumThis ingredient is a synthetic copolymer (a polymer made from more than one type of building block). It is used to stabilize formulas and control the viscosity.
Because it is a large, inert polymer, it doesn't have biological activities and stays on the surface of the skin.
Another name for this ingredient is polyoxyethylene decyltetradecyl ether/hexamethylene diisocyanate/polyethylene glycol 11000 copolymer.
Learn more about PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 EtherPhenoxyethanol 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