What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSqualane
EmollientAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Salicylic Acid
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingLysine
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingMannitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantAndrographis Paniculata Leaf Extract
AstringentRhamnose
HumectantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPotassium Phosphate
BufferingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHexapeptide-2
BleachingLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Squalane, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, C14-22 Alcohols, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Lysine, Azelaic Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Disodium Phosphate, Mannitol, Xylitol, Andrographis Paniculata Leaf Extract, Rhamnose, Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Phosphate, Saccharide Isomerate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Fructooligosaccharides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hexapeptide-2, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantUrea
BufferingMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycolic Acid
BufferingCaprooyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingRetinol
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDextran
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Cholate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningViscum Album Leaf Extract
SoothingMelissa Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialFoeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract
EmollientAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantBHA
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCoumarin
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingWater, Isohexadecane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Saccharide Isomerate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium PCA, Urea, Mandelic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycolic Acid, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Retinol, Sodium Lactate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Allantoin, Lecithin, Alcohol, Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Dipropylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Dextran, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Cholate, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Viscum Album Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Oleate, BHT, BHA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Potassium Sorbate, Propylparaben, Parfum, Coumarin, Citral, Eugenol, Limonene, Isoeugenol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 ParfumSaccharide Isomerate comes from sugars found in corn. It is a skin hydrator.
The structure of this ingredient can be altered to be more similar to the carbohydrates found in our skin. This ability to mimic our skin gives it hydrating properties.
Specifically, saccharide Isomerate is a humectant. Humectants draw moisture from the air to our skin.
Research shows Saccharide Isomerate to be an effective moisturizer.
Learn more about Saccharide IsomerateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
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