What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPEG-20
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingRuscus Aculeatus Root Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Arginine, Chlorphenesin, PEG-20, Salicylic Acid, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Phospholipids, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Geraniol, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingTheanine
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Erythritol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingXylitol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantParfum
MaskingAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water
MaskingHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantBenzoic Acid
MaskingPrunus Speciosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantIsodonis Japonicus Leaf/Stalk Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningPEG-30 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTrisodium EDTA
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, PEG-8, Trehalose, Phenoxyethanol, Methyl Gluceth-10, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Theanine, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Erythritol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polyquaternium-51, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Citric Acid, Xylitol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Parfum, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Serine, Glycine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water, Hydrolyzed Silk, CI 15985, Tocopherol, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, CI 19140, Benzoic Acid, Prunus Speciosa Leaf Extract, Fructose, Isodonis Japonicus Leaf/Stalk Extract, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, PEG-30 Phytosterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Trisodium EDTA
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDipropylene 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 plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water