What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMyristic Acid
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasivePEG-100 Stearate
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingBetaine
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingPrunus Persica Fruit Water
MaskingImperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBoswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
CI 16255
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Prunus Persica Fruit Water, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, PEG-8, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, CI 16255
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantLauric Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientMentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
TonicPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingMentha Piperita Extract
CleansingCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-7
PEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingArachidic Acid
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Oleic Acid
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientQuillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingSilica
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
AntimicrobialResveratrol
AntioxidantSilybum Marianum Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, PEG-8, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Palmitic Acid, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Mentha Piperita Oil, Mentha Piperita Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Butylene Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polyquaternium-7, PEG-14m, Arachidic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Phytate, Oleic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Resveratrol, Silybum Marianum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 42090, CI 19140, 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 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidMyristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidParfum 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-8 is a synthetic polymer used as a humectant and solvent.
This ingredient is able to help dissolve active ingredients, including water. This gives it humectant properties.
It is soluble in water. The number '8' stands for the molecular weight of the ingredient.
Learn more about PEG-8Potassium 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 HydroxideStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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