What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDimethiconol
EmollientPolyethylene
AbrasiveXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPtfe
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientPlantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingParfum
MaskingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPhysalis Pubescens Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingAlcohol
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
AbrasiveHydrolyzed Soy Flour
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingBHT
AntioxidantSodium Chloride
MaskingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingPongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantBacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingSodium Benzoate
MaskingAngelica Archangelica Root Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Amara Peel Extract
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningTrisodium EDTA
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentAcetic Acid
BufferingPotassium Chloride
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantLactic Acid
BufferingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
PreservativeRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
Solvent3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentSaccharomyces/Grape Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-8, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethiconol, Polyethylene, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Benzophenone-4, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Ptfe, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Parfum, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Physalis Pubescens Fruit Juice, Lecithin, Polysorbate 60, Alcohol, Tocopherol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Hydrolyzed Soy Flour, Citric Acid, Sodium Phosphate, BHT, Sodium Chloride, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Linalool, Sodium Benzoate, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Extract, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Trisodium EDTA, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Acetic Acid, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Plankton Extract, Micrococcus Lysate, Sorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, CI 77891, Mica, Propanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Oryza Sativa Extract, Saccharomyces/Grape Ferment Extract, CI 14700, CI 61570
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlutathione
Ascorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantEvodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethylmethoxy Chromanol
AntioxidantPotassium Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Phosphate
AntioxidantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantJasminum Officinale Flower Extract
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingResveratrol
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCitral
PerfumingBHT
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Butylene Glycol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Allantoin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Glutathione, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Potassium Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Phosphate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Polysorbate 20, Resveratrol, Limonene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citral, BHT, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Benzyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTBis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane belongs to the siloxanes and silicones classes. It is synthetically created and has a waxy composition.
This ingredient is a humectant and emollient, meaning it helps hydrate the skin. Humectants draw moisture to your skin, while emollients prevent moisture from escaping.
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinParfum 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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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