What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPvp
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Methoxyethyl Acrylate Copolymer
PEG-8
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningHoney
HumectantAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientHydroxypropyl Chitosan
Butylene Glycol
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Polyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantMethylparaben
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Alcohol Denat., Pvp, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Methoxyethyl Acrylate Copolymer, PEG-8, Trehalose, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Honey, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Hydroxypropyl Chitosan, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-51, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialAcrylates/Diacetoneacrylamide Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantHoney
HumectantHoney Extract
HumectantHydrolyzed Honey Protein
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Extract
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningGluconobacter/Honey Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningIsostearoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
CleansingIsostearyl Glyceryl Ether
Skin ConditioningCellulose
AbsorbentAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantMentha Spicata Herb Oil
PerfumingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingMethacryloyl Ethyl Betaine/Acrylates Copolymer
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDiethyl Sebacate
EmollientIsostearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Alcohol, Acrylates/Diacetoneacrylamide Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Butylene Glycol, Honey, Honey Extract, Hydrolyzed Honey Protein, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Panthenol, Royal Jelly Extract, Gluconobacter/Honey Ferment Filtrate, Propolis Extract, Gamma-Docosalactone, Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Isostearyl Glyceryl Ether, Cellulose, Acacia Senegal Gum, Trehalose, Mentha Spicata Herb Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Methacryloyl Ethyl Betaine/Acrylates Copolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Carbomer, Diethyl Sebacate, Isostearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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 GlycolHoney mostly shows up in skincare as a humectant and skin conditioning agent. This is because its natural sugars (fructose and glucose) help hold onto water so skin feels softer and more hydrated.
Beyond hydration, honey also has antibacterial and wound-supporting properties. Its antibacterial action comes from a mix of things:
Manuka-type honey has an extra bacteria-killing compound called methylglyoxal, while all Honey contains a natural antibacterial protein called bee defensin-1.
Honey also nudges your immune cells to release signals that start the healing process. This is why medical-grade Honey is actually used in real wound dressings.
Just keep in mind that most of the strong clinical evidence is for wound care and not everyday cosmetic claims.
On concentrations and safety:
According to industry data, honey is used up to 22% in paste/mud packs, 7% as a honey extract in body/hand products, and face skincare levels sit well below that.
A human repeat insult patch test of 7% honey extract in 112 subjects showed no sensitization.
Allergy-wise, honey itself is a rare sensitizer. The bigger culprit is usually propolis that sometimes tags along in less-refined honey.
People allergic to propolis, conifer, poplar, salicylates, or Balsam of Peru are advised to avoid this ingredient due to shared allergens.
You might see this ingredient listed as either Honey or Mel (they're the same thing). Mel is simply the Latin word for honey.
A lot of people wonder if Honey is vegan, and technically it isn't.
Honey is made by bees; they gather nectar and their natural enzymes turn it into the Honey we know. So because it comes from an animal, it doesn't fit a vegan lifestyle.
And please remember to be kind to bees :). They're vital to so many ecosystems, and many species are struggling so they're worth protecting.
Learn more about HoneyParfum 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-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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