What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantCellulose
Absorbent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPanthenyl Triacetate
Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropylcellulose
EmulsifyingCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
BHT
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, PEG-8, Cellulose, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Saccharide Isomerate, Benzophenone-3, Panthenol, Alcohol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Panthenyl Triacetate, Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Pantolactone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, BHT, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77891, CI 42090, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
Masking
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citrus Grandis Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Toluene Sulfonic Acid
SurfactantBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, PEG-8, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Grandis Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Toluene Sulfonic Acid, Benzyl Benzoate, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 ParfumPEG-8 is a synthetic polymer used as a humectant and solvent.
This ingredient is able to help dissolve active ingredients, including water. This gives it humectant properties.
It is soluble in water. The number '8' stands for the molecular weight of the ingredient.
Learn more about PEG-8Phenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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
