What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberHomosalate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveDimethicone
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePalmitic Acid
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSteareth-100
Gel FormingPhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantMyristic Acid
CleansingSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Water, Glycerin, Silica, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Palmitic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Steareth-100, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Dipropylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Myristic Acid, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Sodium Hydroxide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDecyl Cocoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDi-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlucose
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentPalmitic Acid
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Decyl Cocoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Caprylyl Methicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Carbomer, Glucose, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Glyceryl Caprylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Palmitic Acid, Tromethamine, Aluminum Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77891, Parfum
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 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 GlycerinPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidParfum 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.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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