What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
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Benefits
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Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientInulin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Parfum
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingLecithin
EmollientZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Carbomer, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Inulin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Lecithin, Zinc Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Pyridoxine Hcl, Citric Acid, CI 42090, CI 19140, CI 60730, CI 60725
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSalicylic Acid
MaskingParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Niacinamide, Betaine, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Carbomer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Trideceth-6, Bisabolol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Xanthan Gum, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Mandelic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Salicylic Acid, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, CI 15510, CI 14700
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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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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.
Sodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum