What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantBHA
AntioxidantBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Retinol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Parfum, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, BHT, BHA, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantSorbeth-30
EmulsifyingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCyclohexane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningPEG-15 Glyceryl Stearate
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientParfum
MaskingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingBHT
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTetrasodium EDTA
Benzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine, Sorbeth-30, Retinyl Palmitate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cyclohexane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, PEG-15 Glyceryl Stearate, Octyldodecanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Lecithin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrogenated Lecithin, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Benzyl Benzoate
Reviews
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 AllantoinBHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 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.
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