What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
Astringent
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xylitol
Humectant
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glucose
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Water, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Glycolic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Disodium EDTA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Sodium Polyglutamate, Trehalose, CI 15985, Citric Acid, CI 17200, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Xylitol, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glucose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract, Cholesterol
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Fomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMannitol
Humectant
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Xylitol
Humectant
Rhamnose
HumectantPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPropyl Gallate
Antioxidant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Capryloyl Glycine, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Citrate, Zinc Gluconate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Mannitol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Pyridoxine Hcl, Propyl Gallate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Fructooligosaccharides, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Reviews
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 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 ParfumPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidWater. 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 WaterXylitol is a humectant and prebiotic. It can help with dry skin.
In studies, xylitol has been shown to improve dry skin. It decreased transepidermal water loss, or when water passes through the skin and evaporates. Xylitol also showed to help improve the biomechanical properties of the skin barrier.
The prebiotic property of xylitol may also help reinforce our skin's natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome prevents infection by bad bacteria and helps with hydration.
As a humectant, Xylitol helps draw moisture from both the air and from deeper skin layers. This helps keep skin hydrated.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and commonly used as a sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring in plants such as strawberries and pumpkin.
Learn more about Xylitol
