What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHydrogenated Lanolin
EmollientSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientCeteth-20
CleansingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientBetaine
HumectantDecyloxazolidinone
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingParfum
MaskingSteareth-25
CleansingMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningSteareth-21
CleansingTetrasodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXylitylglucoside
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlgin
MaskingXylitol
HumectantHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hydrogenated Lanolin, Squalane, Glycerin, Methyl Trimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, PEG-8, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Ceteth-20, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Betaine, Decyloxazolidinone, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Parfum, Steareth-25, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Steareth-21, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Xylitylglucoside, Sorbitol, Linalool, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Hydroxide, Algin, Xylitol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Cellulose Gum, Tocopherol, BHT
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingParfum
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Panthenol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Parfum, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Pentylene Glycol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Callus Culture Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, CI 17200, Citronellol, Geraniol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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