What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
C8-12 Acid Triglyceride
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningFaex
Skin ConditioningMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicMentha Piperita Stem Extract
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Parfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pullulan
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrochloric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol, Glycerin, C8-12 Acid Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Faex, Medicago Sativa Extract, Mentha Piperita Stem Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Tapioca Starch, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Propylene Glycol, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Pullulan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Propanediol, Polyquaternium-51, Lactic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phytic Acid, Silica, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrochloric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Benzoate, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodochrosite Extract
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion Stabilising
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Amodimethicone
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
Abrasive
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantBenzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Betaine, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pentylene Glycol, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Rose Extract, Rhodochrosite Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Adenosine, Carbomer, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77891, Citric Acid, Amodimethicone, CI 77491, CI 14700, Tin Oxide, Sorbic Acid, CI 19140, Benzophenone-4, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineCi 14700, also known as Red No. 4, is a synthetic red dye derived from petroleum. It is water soluble.
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 ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
It’s 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 BenzoateSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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
