What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHexyldecanol
EmollientHexyldecyl Laurate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantC20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
AntioxidantC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Khaya Senegalensis Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCoumarin
PerfumingNicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-47
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hexyldecanol, Hexyldecyl Laurate, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, C20-22 Alcohols, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Hyaluronic Acid, Adenosine, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Khaya Senegalensis Bark Extract, Maltodextrin, Linalool, Limonene, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Coumarin, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-47
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
EmulsifyingSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantFructose
HumectantGlucose
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeUrea
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingSerine
MaskingSorbitol
HumectantMethylparaben
PreservativeDextrin
AbsorbentSucrose
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Propylparaben
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantHexyl Nicotinate
EmollientParfum
MaskingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingWater, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Pentylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Hexylene Glycol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fructose, Glucose, Phenoxyethanol, Urea, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Serine, Sorbitol, Methylparaben, Dextrin, Sucrose, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Allantoin, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate, Parfum, Geraniol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional
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 GlycerinLimonene 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 “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 ParfumPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopheryl 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