What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPPG-3 Myristyl Ether
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientBetaine
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientPterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Lactic Acid
BufferingNordihydroguaiaretic Acid
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningBee Venom
AstringentColloidal Gold
AntimicrobialAcetyl Heptapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantCI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantCI 47000
Cosmetic ColorantCI 26100
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61565
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Panthenol, Glycerin, PPG-3 Myristyl Ether, Isononyl Isononanoate, Betaine, Caprylyl Methicone, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Isostearyl Alcohol, Pterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Lactic Acid, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Propolis Extract, Bee Venom, Colloidal Gold, Acetyl Heptapeptide-9, Parfum, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Citronellol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Metabisulfite, CI 47005, CI 47000, CI 26100, CI 61565, CI 60725
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientTranexamoyl Dipeptide-23
BleachingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethyl Methacrylate
Bisabolol
AntioxidantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-23, Pentylene Glycol, Trehalose, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Bisabolol, Alpha-Arbutin, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
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 GlycolCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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.
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