What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Hydrated Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tetrasodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Dipropylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Polylactic Acid
Abrasive
Propanediol
Solvent
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantBentonite
Absorbent
Diglycerin
Humectant
Kaolin
Abrasive
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Polylactic Acid, Propanediol, CI 77891, Bentonite, Diglycerin, Kaolin, Myristic Acid, Lactic Acid, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Ectoin, Parfum, Coco-Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
