What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantPEG-20
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantMethylserine
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingDimethoxy Di-P-Cresol
AntioxidantHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantLimonene
PerfumingNasturtium Officinale Extract
PerfumingZostera Marina Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Panthaica Root Extract
EmollientPyracantha Fortuneana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Alcohol, Glycerin, PEG-20, Niacinamide, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Methylserine, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Citrate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Dimethoxy Di-P-Cresol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Hydrolyzed Silk, Limonene, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Zostera Marina Extract, Dioscorea Panthaica Root Extract, Pyracantha Fortuneana Fruit Extract, CI 14700, CI 47005
Water
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPEG-8 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingAlcohol
AntimicrobialAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarnosine
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantErgothioneine
AntioxidantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingHydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
AntioxidantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingPEG-100 Stearate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingResveratrol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingSodium PCA
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carnosine, Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract, Cetyl Palmitate, Cholesterol, Citric Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Ergothioneine, Ferulic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Parfum, PEG-100 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Resveratrol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium PCA, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is usually an astringent alcohol.
These alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
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.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Fatty alcohols come from plant oils such as coconut oil. These can help hydrate the skin and are non-irritating. Some fatty alcohols include cetyl and stearyl alcohol.
Learn more about AlcoholButylene 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the āgoodā alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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.
Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum