What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientOleyl Oleate
EmollientPhytosteryl Oleate
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientDiglycerin
HumectantAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLithospermum Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMelothria Heterophylla Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingPEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Silica
AbrasiveTriceteareth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Oleyl Oleate, Phytosteryl Oleate, Triethylhexanoin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Diglycerin, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Lithospermum Officinale Root Extract, Melothria Heterophylla Root Extract, Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Laureth-7, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyacrylamide, Silica, Triceteareth-4 Phosphate, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 77891
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
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholWe don't have a description for Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract yet.
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 GlycolThis ingredient is also known as "C13-14 Isoalkane".
C13-14 Isoparaffin is created from petroleum-based mineral oils. It is an emollient and helps thicken a product.
As an emollient, it helps keep the skin soft and smooth by creating a barrier on top. This barrier traps moisture in, keeping the skin hydrated.
C13-14 Isoparaffin may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about C13-14 IsoparaffinDimethicone 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinLaureth-7 is created by the ethoxylation of lauryl alcohol using ethylene oxide. Lauryl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with hydrating properties.
This ingredient is an emulsifier and cleansing ingredient. As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps cleanse the skin by gathering dirt, oil, and pollutants to be rinsed away.
We don't have a description for Melothria Heterophylla Root Extract yet.
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 ParfumPolyacrylamide is a synthetic polymer. It is used to stabilize products and bind ingredients. When hydrated, Polyacrylamide forms a soft gel.
Polyacrylamide is low-toxicity. If source properly, it is deemed safe to use in cosmetics.
It should be noted the precursor to Polyacrylamide is acrylamide. Acrylamide is a carcinogen. Most reputable sources of Polyacrylamide will screen for residual acrylamide to make sure the count is in a safe range. Acrylamide is not able to be absorbed through the skin.
We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about PolyacrylamidePropylene Glycol Dicaprate is an emollient and emulsifier. It is created from a mixture of fatty acids.
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