What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructan
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSaponins
CleansingSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningPentapeptide-3
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglycerin-3
HumectantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingStearyl Dimethicone
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantVinyldimethicone
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantOctadecene
SolventEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyacrylate-13
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventSodium Phosphate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAlgin
MaskingBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningDextran
Mineral Salts
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diisostearyl Malate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructan, Inulin, Panthenol, Betaine, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine, Saponins, Soluble Proteoglycan, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Nonapeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Pentapeptide-3, Hexapeptide-9, Oligopeptide-2, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Malt Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglycerin-3, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearyl Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Vinyldimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Octadecene, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyacrylate-13, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Disodium EDTA, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Arginine, Carbomer, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Propanediol, Sodium Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Algin, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Dextran, Mineral Salts, Disodium Phosphate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCitrus Limon Juice
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPolyglycerin-3
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventSodium Acrylic Acid/Ma Copolymer
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlutathione
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
Ascorbic Acid
AntioxidantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantArbutin
AntioxidantHesperidin
EmollientRetinal
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Citrus Limon Juice, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Sodium Acrylic Acid/Ma Copolymer, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol, Glutathione, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Riboflavin, Arbutin, Hesperidin, Retinal
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineArginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineBeta-Glucan is a polysaccharide. It can be derived from the cell walls of seaweed, oats, yeast, and fungi. It hydrates the skin and helps boost your skin's natural barrier.
As an antioxidant, beta-glucan helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Studies show this ingredient may be an effective wrinkle reducer as it can deeply penetrate into skin. It has also been show to help with wound healing.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCyanocobalamin is the manufactured version of vitamin B12. It has skin soothing, antioxidant, and barrier protecting properties. Topical cyanocobalamin is used to treat skin irritation and atopic dermatitis.
Dipropylene 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 âgoodâ 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol 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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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 ParfumPolyglycerin-3 is a 3-unit glycerin polymer.
Like glycerin, this ingredient is a humectant. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing water to it.
Having moisturized skin helps improve the skin barrier. Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Learn more about Polyglycerin-3Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser. On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LauratePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs 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 PropanediolWater. 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