What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Methylpropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Trisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Homosalate, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Methylpropanediol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Tapioca Starch, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, BHT, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C13-15 Alkane
SolventPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Arginine
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Maltose
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Pectin
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-8
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Cydonia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTapioca Starch
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, C13-15 Alkane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Arginine, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Citric Acid, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fructose, Glucose, Glyceryl Laurate, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Lecithin, Maltose, Panthenol, Parfum, Pectin, PEG-8, Pentylene Glycol, Proline, Pyrus Cydonia Fruit Extract, Serine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tapioca Starch, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trehalose, Urea, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 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 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.
Chances 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 ChlorideSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTapioca starch is a thickening agent and is made from the cassava root, also known as yucca.
According to a manufacturer, it is an excellent talc replacement.
It is gluten-free.
Learn more about Tapioca StarchTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
