What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCanola Oil
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientPEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate
SurfactantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Silica
AbrasiveArginine
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhytic Acid
Ascorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Camellia Japonica Flower Water, Squalane, Glycerin, Alcohol, Lauroyl Lysine, Propanediol, Canola Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Arginine, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phytic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, CI 77891, Mica
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCellulose
AbsorbentCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentPropylene Glycol
HumectantBoron Nitride
AbsorbentXylitylglucoside
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Tartaric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantGlucose
HumectantTamarindus Indica Extract
SmoothingMarrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
CleansingLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentCitric Acid
BufferingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantMalpighia Emarginata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingRhododendron Ferrugineum Extract
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeLapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Cellulose, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Propylene Glycol, Boron Nitride, Xylitylglucoside, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Anhydroxylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xylitol, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Tartaric Acid, Tocopherol, Glucose, Tamarindus Indica Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, PEG-8 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Malpighia Emarginata Seed Extract, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid, Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Maris Sal, CI 14700
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propanediol 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 PropanediolSodium 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