What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantVolcanic Soil
Skin ConditioningManicouagan Clay
AbsorbentStearic Acid
CleansingGlycolic Acid
BufferingBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate
HumectantSaccharomyces/Mother Of Pearl Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCollagen
MoisturisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantCeteth-25
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMenthone Glycerin Acetal
RefreshingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantButylene Glycol
HumectantHectorite
AbsorbentPEG-8
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCitrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingPhytic Acid
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPaeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Denudata Flower Extract
Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract
AntimicrobialCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingPopulus Tremuloides Bark Extract
AntiseborrhoeicPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Kaolin, Glycerin, Volcanic Soil, Manicouagan Clay, Stearic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Mother Of Pearl Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Collagen, Pentylene Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 77499, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Bisabolol, Ceteth-25, Phenoxyethanol, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Hectorite, PEG-8, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, Phytic Acid, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract, Magnolia Denudata Flower Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract, CI 77891, Polysorbate 20, Titanium Dioxide, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Parfum, Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningMontmorillonite
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Aluminometasilicate
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientVolcanic Soil
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
SmoothingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentBisabolol
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasiveEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantTrehalose
HumectantOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingGentiana Scabra Extract
HumectantAmylopectin
Dextrin
AbsorbentFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingPyrus Malus Bark Extract
AstringentCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningPropylparaben
PreservativeGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Montmorillonite, Glycerin, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Methylpropanediol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, CI 77891, Magnesium Aluminometasilicate, Glyceryl Stearate, Volcanic Soil, PEG-100 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Glucoside, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Bisabolol, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Trehalose, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Glucose, Lactobacillus Ferment, Parfum, Ceramide NP, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Gentiana Scabra Extract, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Pyrus Malus Bark Extract, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Propylparaben, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, CI 77492
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololButylene 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 GlycolCeramide AP is is a skin-identical lipid that mimics what your skin already makes naturally. Ceramides help maintain epidermal integrity and barrier function.
You'll often see this ingredient paired with other ceramides (like ceramide NP), cholesterol, or fatty acids because this combination best mimics the natural lipid mix your skin already has.
The skin's ability to produce ceramides gets disrupted in skin conditions like eczema. This in turn weakens the skin barrier and applying ceramides topically has been shown to replenish what's been lost to restore barrier function.
Most of the studies with Ceramide AP test it as part of a multi-ceramide complex; studies reinforce ceramide AP's role in rebalancing ceramides in skin and improving skin hydration.
Learn more about Ceramide APCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneParfum 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 ParfumPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolVolcanic Soil is an oil.
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 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