What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Juglans Regia Shell Powder
Abrasive
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentLauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Triethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Benzoic Acid, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
Humectant
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Juglans Regia Shell Powder
Abrasive
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLactobionic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Euterpe Oleracea Pulp Powder
Abrasive
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Perlite
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-45m
HumectantWater, Sorbitol, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Propylene Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Parfum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Lactobionic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, 1,2-Hexanediol, Euterpe Oleracea Pulp Powder, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Perlite, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-45m
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerDisodium 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 EDTAYou might know this ingredient as walnut shell powder. It is an abrasive used as a physical exfoliator.
Abrasives are physical exfoliants used to get rid of dead cell buildup on your skin. Physical exfoliators have a bad reputation due to the myth that they give your face tiny cuts. This is untrue.
Like any exfoliant, using this ingredient can disrupt your skin barrier. This can lead to breakouts, irritation, and dryness. It is critical to be gentle when using any type of exfoliator.
If you want to use a chemical exfoliator instead, check out glycolic acid.
Learn more about Juglans Regia Shell PowderParfum 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
