What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 80, Caffeine, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, CI 17200, CI 42090, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventC15-19 Alkane
SolventSilica Silylate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sucrose Cocoate
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
AbrasiveSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMarrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMalpighia Emarginata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCapsicum Annuum Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantLapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, C15-19 Alkane, Silica Silylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sorbitan Stearate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Parfum, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Disodium EDTA, Sucrose Cocoate, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Sodium Benzoate, T-Butyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Malpighia Emarginata Seed Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, CI 14700, Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Maris Sal, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 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