What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Polyisobutene
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientParfum
Masking
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Betaine
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic Acid
CleansingXylitol
Humectant
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Polyisobutene, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Parfum, Ethylhexyl Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Sodium Phytate, Betaine, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Squalane, Caprylic Acid, Xylitol, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearalkonium Chloride
Preservative
Pisum Sativum Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Corn Starch Modified
AbsorbentArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Polyitaconate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Polyquaternium-10
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus/Tomato Fruit Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningKeratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Vanillin
Masking
Acyl Coenzyme A Desaturase
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearalkonium Chloride, Pisum Sativum Peptide, Corn Starch Modified, Arachidyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyitaconate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyquaternium-10, Phenylpropanol, Behenyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Arachidyl Glucoside, Parfum, Pvp, Lactobacillus/Tomato Fruit Ferment Extract, Keratin Amino Acids, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Vanillin, Acyl Coenzyme A Desaturase, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is also known as flaxseed extract. It has skin conditioning and perfuming properties.
Flaxseed naturally contains polysaccharides (sugars) and small amounts of fatty acid-related compounds to help hydrate the skin. The seed also contains antioxidants being studied for its effects on inflammation pathways.
A small clinical trial found topical flaxseed oil improved hand eczema over the course of 4 weeks. In an animal study, topical flaxseed cream supported wound-healing outcomes.
Overall, flaxseed is a great hydrating and barrier supporting ingredient. Like other plant extracts, some rare cases of allergic reactions can occur.
Though flaxseed has a perfuming function according to INCI, this doesn't mean the ingredient is added as a fragrance. It just means the material can contribute an odor or modify the scent of a formula.
Learn more about Linum Usitatissimum Seed ExtractParfum 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 ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
