What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polyacrylic Acid
Emulsion StabilisingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Prunus Persica Leaf Extract
Emollient
Prunus Persica Flower Extract
MoisturisingTromethamine
BufferingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
Octyldodeceth-16
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., Polyacrylic Acid, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Alpha-Arbutin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Tromethamine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Octyldodeceth-16, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Lauroyl Lysine, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Isododecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyester-5
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Gentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingArtemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer
Vp/Va Copolymer
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Flower Extract
MoisturisingArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Amp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Laureth-21
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Polyester-5, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Octyldodeceth-16, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Alcohol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Parfum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer, Vp/Va Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Amp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Laureth-21, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinOctyldodeceth-16 comes from the fatty-alcohol Octyldodecanol.
Emulsifers keep oils and water ingredients together to create a more even consistency.
Parfum 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 ParfumPeg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil comes from hydrogenated castor oil. It is a solubilizer and emulsifier.
As a solubilizer, it helps dissolve ingredients into a water-based version. It is also an emulsifer. Emulsifier help prevent oils and water from separating. Both these properties help create evenly-spread and uniform products.
Basically, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil helps hold ingredients together.
Learn more about PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate isn't fungal acne safe.
Prunus Persica Flower Extract comes from the flowers of the peach tree.
Peach flower extract has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Some studies show peach flower to potentially protect skin against UV damage. However, further research is needed.
Learn more about Prunus Persica Flower ExtractSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
