What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingTrideceth-10
CleansingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Dimethiconol, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Trideceth-10, Propylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Pisum Sativum Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Carbomer, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentQuaternium-87
CleansingDimethicone
Emollient
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Steareth-6
EmulsifyingAcetic Acid
BufferingPEG-150/Decyl Alcohol/Smdi Copolymer
PEG-100 Stearate
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Trideceth-10
CleansingTrideceth-3
EmulsifyingChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Amodimethicone
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Distarch Phosphate, Quaternium-87, Dimethicone, CI 17200, CI 42090, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-6, Acetic Acid, PEG-150/Decyl Alcohol/Smdi Copolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-10, Trideceth-3, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Salicylic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Amodimethicone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 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.
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 GlycolSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidWe don't have a description for Trideceth-10 yet.
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
