What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCystine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantBetaine
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCoconut Acid
CleansingSodium Carbonate
BufferingPolyquaternium-6
Citric Acid
BufferingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingTetrasodium EDTA
Benzophenone-4
UV AbsorberBHT
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCholesterol
EmollientWater, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Decyl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cystine, Glycine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Panthenol, Saccharide Isomerate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Phytosphingosine, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coconut Acid, Sodium Carbonate, Polyquaternium-6, Citric Acid, PEG-150 Distearate, Stearic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Benzophenone-4, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitan Laurate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Cholesterol
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantLauric Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningLactose
HumectantCellulose
AbsorbentPolyquaternium-7
Butylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantPerilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingPlatycodon Grandiflorus Root Extract
AntioxidantPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGold
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Beeswax, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Allantoin, Lactose, Cellulose, Polyquaternium-7, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Platycodon Grandiflorus Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Gold, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, CI 77491, CI 19140, CI 15985
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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