What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingMethylpropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSqualane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningVp/Va Copolymer
Menthyl Lactate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Methylpropanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Vp/Va Copolymer, Menthyl Lactate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Trideceth-6, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDiisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Cera Alba
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Magnesium Sulfate, Cera Alba, Allantoin, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinPanthenol 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 “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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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