What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientPEG-6 Stearate
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientPEG-32 Stearate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantEchinacea Angustifolia Extract
MoisturisingMalva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cetyl Palmitate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, PEG-6 Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, PEG-32 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Soluble Collagen, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Linalool, Amyl Cinnamal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Eugenol, Coumarin, Limonene, Isoeugenol, Hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyquaternium-37
Glycolic Acid
BufferingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingParfum
Masking1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Benzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeGeraniol
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Niacinamide, Polyquaternium-37, Glycolic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Parfum, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Benzyl Benzoate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Geraniol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citral, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of 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.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholBenzyl Benzoate is usually created from the condensation of benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol. It is used as a preservative, solvent, and has a floral/balsamic scent in large amounts.
As a preservative, Benzyl Benzoate works against bacteria and fungus. It is often used to treat scabies and lice in medicine.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Due to its fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate can be sensitizing and may cause contact dermatitis. It is a known EU allergen. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Benzyl Benzoate can be naturally found in cranberries and peaches.
Learn more about Benzyl BenzoateDisodium 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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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