What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningOctanediol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningMonarda Didyma Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingArtemisinin
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingWater, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Betaine, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Lactobacillus, Allantoin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Butylene Glycol, Polyglutamic Acid, Octanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chamomilla Recutita Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Artemisinin, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Parfum
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlycereth-26
HumectantDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDimethiconol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Glucose
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCitrus Nobilis Fruit Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingAngelica Keiskei Extract
AntioxidantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentPropanediol
SolventPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAlchemilla Vulgaris Leaf Extract
AntioxidantAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingVeronica Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrimula Veris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingWater
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycereth-26, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C14-22 Alcohols, Arachidyl Alcohol, Chlorphenesin, Dimethiconol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Glucoside, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Glucose, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Potassium Laurate, Angelica Keiskei Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Propanediol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Veronica Officinalis Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Primula Veris Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Water, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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 GlycolChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinDipropylene 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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 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.
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