What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantPEG-6
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantPEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialErythritol
HumectantPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cocoyl Glutamate
Citric Acid
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingSapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingMagnesium Chloride
Oenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientCalcium Chloride
AstringentSerine
MaskingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantZingiber Aromaticus Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCitrus Junos Seed Extract
AntioxidantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Diglycerin, PEG-6, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Alcohol, Erythritol, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Potassium Cocoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Linalool, Sapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citronellol, Geraniol, Magnesium Chloride, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Calcium Chloride, Serine, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Zingiber Aromaticus Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Citrus Junos Seed Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPEG-32
HumectantPEG-6
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningMethylserine
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
PerfumingNasturtium Officinale Extract
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeranium Robertianum Extract
AstringentHydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningZostera Marina Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, PEG-32, PEG-6, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Acetyl Glucosamine, Methylserine, Parfum, Potassium Phosphate, Disodium Phosphate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Limonene, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Citronellol, Geranium Robertianum Extract, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Zostera Marina Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate
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 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 GlycolCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolDipropylene 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 ‘good’ 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 (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 ParfumWe don't have a description for PEG-6 yet.
Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil comes from hydrogenated castor oil. It is a solubilizer and emulsifier.
As a solubilizer, it helps dissolve ingredients into a water-based version. It is also an emulsifer. Emulsifier help prevent oils and water from separating. Both these properties help create evenly-spread and uniform products.
Basically, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil helps hold ingredients together.
Learn more about PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide are the sugars from the snow mushroom.
Snow mushroom is rich in polysaccharides, giving it moisturizing benefits. As a humectant, snow mushroom helps draw moisture from the air to the skin. Polysaccharides are able to mimic our skin's natural carbohydrates to help the skin retain water.
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