What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantUrea
BufferingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantParfum
MaskingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingAlgin
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Pentylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Trehalose, Urea, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Serine, Citric Acid, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingPPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate
EmulsifyingSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSericin
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingOryza Sativa Germ Oil
EmollientChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentTocopherol
AntioxidantTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sericin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Tocopherol, Trideceth-12, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sorbitan Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Benzoate, Gluconolactone, Parfum, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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