What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicInula Britannica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelothria Heterophylla Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPolyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Rapeseed Glycerides
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingPEG-8
HumectantPolyacrylamide
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingEthylparaben
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Squalane, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Inula Britannica Flower Extract, Melothria Heterophylla Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Phosphate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Glycerides, Laureth-7, PEG-8, Polyacrylamide, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Sorbitan Stearate, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCitrus Sinensis Peel Extract
PerfumingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicNiacinamide
SmoothingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeParfum
MaskingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPEG-20
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Chlorphenesin, Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Sinensis Peel Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Parfum, Phospholipids, PEG-20, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHamamelis Virginiana Extract comes from the witch hazel plant.
Unless it is specified to be non-alcohol, many types of witch hazel ingredients are distilled in denatured alcohol.
Witch Hazel has astringent, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties.
The tannin content of witch hazel constrict the appearance of pores by drying out proteins. Witch hazel water gets anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties from its catechin and gallic acid content.
However, witch hazel may be skin-sensitizing due to the tannin and fragrance compounds.
North American Indigenous groups have used witch hazel to help treat inflammation for centuries.
Learn more about Hamamelis Virginiana ExtractParfum 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 ParfumTocopheryl 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