What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-8
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Linalool
PerfumingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitrus Limon Juice
Skin ConditioningT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-8, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Parfum, Isononyl Isononanoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Linalool, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Citrus Limon Juice, T-Butyl Alcohol, Geraniol, Citral, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, CI 19140, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantAzelaic Acid
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingSqualane
EmollientAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSilica Silylate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingParfum
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
AstringentSodium Benzoate
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitronellol
PerfumingMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propylene Glycol, Azelaic Acid, Niacinamide, Squalane, Alpha-Arbutin, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Silica Silylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Benzyl Benzoate, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Lactic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Potassium Sorbate, Citronellol, Morus Alba Root Extract, CI 19140, CI 42090, Tocopherol
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.
Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.
Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
Learn more about CI 19140Ci 42090 is a synthetic dye created from petroleum. It is used to give a bright blue color to cosmetics, medicine, and food.
Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsononyl Isononanoate is a synthetic skin-conditioner and texture enhancer. It is created from nonanoic acid, a fatty acid found in cocoa and lavender oil.
As an emollient, Isononyl Isononanoate helps keep your skin soft and smooth. This is because emollients create a barrier on the skin to trap moisture in.
Isononyl Isononanoate helps give products a velvet feel and improves spreadability.
Learn more about Isononyl IsononanoateLinalool 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 ParfumPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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