What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingPearl Extract
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Niacinamide, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Pearl Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingLauryl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingPropylene Glycol Laurate
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Laurylpyridinium Chloride
AntimicrobialHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingLevulinic Acid
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingSodium Bicarbonate
AbrasiveSalicylic Acid
MaskingBambusa Vulgaris Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Lauryl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Propylene Glycol Laurate, C12-14 Pareth-12, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Laurylpyridinium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Levulinic Acid, Limonene, Sodium Bicarbonate, Salicylic Acid, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Butylene Glycol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, CI 17200
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.
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 preservatives
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 GlycolCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil is oil from the peel of an orange fruit.
Limonene and linalool make up the majority of oils from citrus peels. Limonene has a "citrus" fragrance. Citrus peels also contain flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.
Citrus peel is also a rich source of flavonoids. Flavonoids are natural antioxidants and help protect your skin against damage. Flavonoids are a group of compounds naturally found in vegetables and fruits.
The term '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.
Learn more about Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel OilDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 ParfumChances 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 ChlorideWater. 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