What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Rubus Idaeus Juice
AstringentBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, Salicylic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Benzyl Benzoate, Rubus Idaeus Juice, Benzyl Alcohol, Geraniol, Linalool, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Sodium Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Potassium Sorbate, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Xylitol
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polysilicone-11
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlucose
Humectant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Algin
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Dimethicone, Xylitylglucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Anhydroxylitol, Glycerin, Trehalose, Urea, Xylitol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Hydroxide, Glucose, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Parfum, Pentylene Glycol, Serine, Caprylyl Glycol, Algin, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Decyl Glucoside, Potassium Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium 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 Hydroxide
