What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Lauroamphodiacetate
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberMenthol
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingMethylparaben
PreservativeDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeBlue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium Lauroamphodiacetate, Panthenol, Polyquaternium-7, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Menthol, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Methylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin, Blue 1 Lake, CI 60725, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingParfum
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingXylitol
HumectantCellulose
AbsorbentPolygonum Fagopyrum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract
AbrasiveAlgin
MaskingIron Oxides
Mannitol
HumectantHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTriethyl Citrate
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Talc
AbrasiveTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantMethylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
AstringentPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Parfum, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xylitol, Cellulose, Polygonum Fagopyrum Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract, Algin, Iron Oxides, Mannitol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethyl Citrate, Mica, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Talc, Titanium Dioxide, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Disodium EDTA, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng 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.
Disodium 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 ParfumPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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