What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-240
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPEG-100 Stearate
Dimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
EmollientCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAtractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Oil
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, PEG-240, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Prunus Mume Flower Extract, Oenothera Biennis Seed Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Oil, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientRose Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Extract
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Rose Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Extract, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyanocobalamin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDipropylene 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 is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum 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