What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
PEG-100
HumectantMagnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Panthenol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl Olivate, PEG-100, Magnesium Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Sorbitan Olivate, Butylene Glycol, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Hexylresorcinol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingTrimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTri-C14-15 Alkyl Citrate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningGossypium Herbaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Behenyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDimethiconol
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantTrisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCitral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Triethylhexanoin, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Tri-C14-15 Alkyl Citrate, Glycerin, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Maltodextrin, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Dimethiconol, PEG-100 Stearate, Trisodium EDTA, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Limonene, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Reviews
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
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 ingredientās 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 CarbomerCetearyl Olivate is a plant-derived emulsifier and texture enhancer. It helps keep the oil and water phases from separating so your formulas stay stable.
You'll likely see it combined with Sorbitan Olivate (together sold as the trade name Olivem 1000). This combination generates a liquid crystal structure that closely resemble the lipid organization of the stratum corneum.
These "skin-like" liquid crystals improve skin barrier integrity and promote the delivery of actives into the skin.
This ingredient is well-tolerated and has no significant sensitization data.
Because it is derived from the fatty acids in olive oil, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl OlivateCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxanePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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 hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.
This ingredient is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Cetearyl Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateWater. 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