What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPalmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
AntioxidantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantLecithin
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeSilica
AbrasiveKhaya Senegalensis Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTin Oxide
AbrasiveSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, C12-16 Alcohols, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, Cetearyl Glucoside, CI 77891, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Mica, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Benzyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lecithin, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Hyaluronic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Silica, Khaya Senegalensis Bark Extract, Maltodextrin, Tin Oxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Citric Acid, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene, Coumarin
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientTridecyl Stearate
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPEG-75 Stearate
SurfactantHelianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBenzimidazole Diamond Amidoethyl Urea Carbamoyl Propyl Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Cosmetic ColorantVigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCeteth-20
CleansingOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningSteareth-20
CleansingTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcacia Decurrens Flower Cera
EmollientSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSilica
AbrasivePentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Tridecyl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-75 Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzimidazole Diamond Amidoethyl Urea Carbamoyl Propyl Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract, Ceteth-20, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Steareth-20, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Dimethiconol, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, Polyglycerin-3, Sodium Hydroxide, Silica, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, CI 16035, Parfum
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 ParfumSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium 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 HydroxideTocopherol 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum