What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Acrylates Copolymer
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ethylcellulose
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Isohexadecane
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Aroma
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentWater, Octyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Acrylates Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Ethylcellulose, Behenyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Silica, Sorbitan Stearate, Isohexadecane, Diisostearyl Malate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Polysorbate 80, CI 77491, CI 77492, Parfum, CI 77499, Sorbitan Oleate, Aroma, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 15850, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, CI 17200, CI 15985, CI 42090, Butylene Glycol, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientDiphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylcellulose
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantAcid Red 33
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientAmmonium Polyacrylate
StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Diisostearyl Malate, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylcellulose, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Alcohol Denat., Titanium Dioxide, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 60, Parfum, Glyceryl Caprylate, CI 15985, Acid Red 33, CI 19140, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 45410, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.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 GlycolCi 15985 is a dye made from petroleum. It is synthetically created and approved by the FDA for use in foods and cosmetics.
The color of this dye is orange/yellow.
This ingredient can be found in makeup, sun care, and skincare.
Learn more about CI 15985Diisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.
As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.
We don't have a description for Ethylcellulose yet.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Parfum 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 ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Water. 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
