What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberTriethanolamine
BufferingAminopropyl Dimethicone
Erythritol
HumectantPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Peel Extract
AntioxidantPinus Sylvestris Leaf/Stem Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialZiziphus Jujuba Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningZizyphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPPG-8-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Silica
AbrasiveCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingIsostearic Acid
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Diphenolic Acid
Tocopherol
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingIron Oxides
Water, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Xylitol, Octocrylene, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Triethanolamine, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Erythritol, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Caffeine, Pyrus Malus Peel Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf/Stem Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Seed Extract, Zizyphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, PPG-8-Ceteth-20, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Silica, Carbomer, Isostearic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Metaphosphate, Disodium EDTA, Diphenolic Acid, Tocopherol, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingCetearyl Olivate
Palmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMyristic Acid
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Vinyldimethicone, Carbomer, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tromethamine, Cetearyl Olivate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Myristic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propolis Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid
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 GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 ParfumWater. 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