What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCarrageenan
Xylitol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingLactic Acid
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingAmyl Salicylate
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Extract
PerfumingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingBenzoic Acid
MaskingMethyl Benzoate
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Carrageenan, Xylitol, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Parfum, Linalool, Lactic Acid, Limonene, Amyl Salicylate, Linalyl Acetate, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Geraniol, Geranyl Acetate, Benzoic Acid, Methyl Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAcrylic Acid/Vp Crosspolymer
Polyquaternium-11
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPolyquaternium-70
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Acrylic Acid/Vp Crosspolymer, Polyquaternium-11, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Panthenol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Polyquaternium-70, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPanthenol 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 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.
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate comes from Capric Acid and Polyglycerin-4. It is an emulsifier.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. They do this by preventing ingredients from separating, such as oils and water which do not mix naturally.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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