What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningEmblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Polyester-11
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Arginine, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Lauroyl Lysine, Dicaprylyl Ether, Ethylhexylglycerin, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Polyester-11, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Parfum, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Coco-Sulfate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Babassuamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Menthol
Masking
Camphor
Masking
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-4
Acetum
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Cocamidopropylamine Oxide
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Glycerin, Babassuamidopropyl Betaine, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Menthol, Camphor, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Sodium Gluconate, Polyquaternium-4, Acetum, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene, Isoeugenol, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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 ParfumSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
