What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Stearate
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlycol Distearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
O-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingMethylpropanediol
SolventPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycol Distearate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium EDTA, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Methylpropanediol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArtemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCetylpyridinium Chloride
AntimicrobialSalicylic Acid
MaskingBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
DMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lauryl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Salicylic Acid, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Panthenol, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium Benzoate, BHT, CI 19140, CI 42090
Reviews
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 GlycolCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineParfum 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 ParfumPropylene 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 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 BenzoateSodium 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 CitrateTetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Water. 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