What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCocamide Methyl Mea
SurfactantCocoyl Methyl Beta-Alanine
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantDimethyl Lauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningHoney
HumectantCoconut Acid
CleansingPropanediol
SolventPolyquaternium-10
PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
SolventSodium Chloride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantLarix Kaempferi Root Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCorydalis Ambigua Bark/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Cocoyl Methyl Beta-Alanine, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Dimethyl Lauroyl Lysine, Honey, Coconut Acid, Propanediol, Polyquaternium-10, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Larix Kaempferi Root Bark Extract, Corydalis Ambigua Bark/Root Extract, Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopentyldiol
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientAminopropyl Dimethicone
Polysilicone-13
Steartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeSqualane
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPEG-2 Laurate
EmulsifyingSodium Methyltaurate
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingC13-16 Isoparaffin
SolventLaurtrimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingC10-13 Isoparaffin
SolventDisodium EDTA
Cetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantAmodimethicone
PPG-2-Deceth-12
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Stearyl Alcohol, Isopentyldiol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Polysilicone-13, Steartrimonium Chloride, Squalane, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Lactic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Isopropyl Myristate, PEG-2 Laurate, Sodium Methyltaurate, Salicylic Acid, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Laurtrimonium Chloride, C10-13 Isoparaffin, Disodium EDTA, Cetrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Amodimethicone, PPG-2-Deceth-12, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, 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 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 EDTAParfum 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium 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