What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingTri (Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate-13
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantMannitol
HumectantPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyisobutene
Hexyldecanol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingParfum
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycolic Acid, Tri (Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate, Polyacrylate-13, Sodium Hydroxide, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Bisabolol, Mannitol, Phosphatidylcholine, Glycerin, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Ceramide NP, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Phenoxyethanol, Polyisobutene, Hexyldecanol, Pentylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearic Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantGossypium Herbaceum Extract
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantLilium Candidum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Citric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantTetrasodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Gossypium Herbaceum Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Caffeine, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceteareth-12, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, BHT, Tetrasodium EDTA, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 ParfumTetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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