What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPalmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingBisabolol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Phytate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Squalane, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Bisabolol, Glyceryl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Potassium Sorbate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventPalmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantMagnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Geraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide NP, Xanthan Gum, CI 77891, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Adenosine, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Geraniol, Linalool, CI 77491, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, CI 77492, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Citronellol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPalmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract is an antioxidant made by attaching a palmitic acid group to extract from young grapevine (Vitis vinifera) shoots. The palmitoyl part makes it more oil-soluble, which helps it absorb into skin.
It's a proprietary ingredient used almost exclusively by Caudalie, where it's the active behind their "Viniférine" technology and the brightening claims in the Vinoperfect line. Grapevine shoots are naturally rich in resveratrol and related compounds like Δ-viniferin, so the antioxidant credentials are plausible. Studies on similar grapevine-shoot extracts show real free-radical scavenging and a boost to the skin's own antioxidant enzymes like SOD and GPx.
The catch: most of the evidence for the brightening and anti-aging claims comes from the brand itself rather than independent research.
Fun fact: grapevine shoots are the pruned branches left over after harvest - a vineyard byproduct that got a second life in skincare.
Learn more about Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot ExtractParfum 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 ParfumPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 HydroxideSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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