What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantQuaternium-22
Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPelvetia Canaliculata Extract
Skin ProtectingXylitylglucoside
HumectantPolyquaternium-44
Anhydroxylitol
HumectantMaltitol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xylitol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbic Acid
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Propanediol, Betaine, Quaternium-22, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pvp, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Pelvetia Canaliculata Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Polyquaternium-44, Anhydroxylitol, Maltitol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Citral, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Cyclotetrasiloxane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientParfum
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningCetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
CleansingHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycerin
HumectantSargassum Filipendula Extract
Skin ProtectingSorbitol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantCoffea Arabica Seed Oil
MaskingBisabolol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantAlgin
MaskingCarrageenan
Chitosan
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCyclotetrasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Parfum, Water, Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Glycerin, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Sorbitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Algin, Carrageenan, Chitosan, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Reviews
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 EthylhexylglycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideParfum 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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