What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Propanediol
Solvent
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCarrageenan
Honey
Humectant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Taurine
BufferingOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Polygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNatto Gum
Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningJuglans Regia Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Propanediol, Carbomer, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Adenosine, Limonene, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Methyl Trimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Carrageenan, Honey, Madecassoside, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Taurine, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Linalool, Polygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Propylene Glycol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Natto Gum, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Juglans Regia Seed Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Citronellol, Citral, Geraniol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Citric Acid
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Ketoglutaric Acid
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Natto Gum
Betaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, Saccharomyces Ferment, Ketoglutaric Acid, Madecassoside, Natto Gum, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Adenosine, Water, Carbomer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, 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.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineAlcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineBis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane belongs to the siloxanes and silicones classes. It is synthetically created and has a waxy composition.
This ingredient is a humectant and emollient, meaning it helps hydrate the skin. Humectants draw moisture to your skin, while emollients prevent moisture from escaping.
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosideNatto Gum is created by fermenting a soy protein using Bacillus natto (a bacteria). It is used as a texture enhancer.
Natto gum contains nattokinase, an enzyme. It is currently being studied for its ability to improve blood circulation.
Studies also show fermented soy-based ingredients help boost antioxidant activity.
Learn more about Natto GumParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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
