What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDi-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Xylitol
Humectant
Rhamnose
HumectantSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Propanediol, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Coco-Glucoside, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Mannitol, Propyl Gallate, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Sodium Metabisulfite, Tocopherol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract
MaskingHexyldecanol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Fructooligosaccharides, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Carnosine, Adenosine, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract, Hexyldecanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Pyrus Malus Seed Extract, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Tocopherol, Parfum
Reviews
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 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 ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTocopherol 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
