What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Betaine, Glycereth-26, Isopropyl Myristate, Squalane, Dimethicone, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, CI 19140, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasiveCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Salicylic Acid
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Coerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Kaolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Nymphaea Coerulea Flower Extract, CI 17200
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
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 Water