What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Methoxysalicylate
BleachingDimethicone
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Talc
Abrasive
Batyl Alcohol
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-6
HumectantPEG-32
HumectantBehenic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Citrate
BufferingAlumina
Abrasive
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSuccinoglycan
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCrataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Cellulose
Absorbent
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingRehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrola Incarnata Extract
Skin ConditioningPotentilla Erecta Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Potassium Methoxysalicylate, Dimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Triethylhexanoin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Talc, Batyl Alcohol, Diisostearyl Malate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-6, PEG-32, Behenic Acid, PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Sodium Metaphosphate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Silica, Sodium Citrate, Alumina, Potassium Hydroxide, Succinoglycan, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Xanthan Gum, CI 77891, Alcohol, Parfum, Caffeine, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid, Linalool, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Limonene, Cellulose, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Prunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Pyrola Incarnata Extract, Potentilla Erecta Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8
HumectantAframomum Angustifolium Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Palmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Alcaligenes Polysaccharides
EmollientPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Alcohol, Propanediol, Betaine, Diglycerin, Lauroyl Lysine, PEG-8, Aframomum Angustifolium Seed Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Sodium Surfactin, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate, Adenosine, Xylitol, Trehalose, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Boron Nitride, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, CI 14700, CI 60730, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
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 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 ParfumTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
