What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSalicylic Acid
MaskingDimethiconol
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingCetearyl Olivate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTapioca Starch
Parfum
MaskingPEG/PPG-8/3 Laurate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
AntioxidantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Salix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide Ag
HumectantOryza Sativa Cera
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
EmollientTriethylene Glycol
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolymethylsilsesquioxane
Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 18820
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Sodium Carbomer, Salicylic Acid, Dimethiconol, Allantoin, Azelaic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Panthenol, Sorbitan Olivate, Tapioca Starch, Parfum, PEG/PPG-8/3 Laurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide Ag, Oryza Sativa Cera, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Triethylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, CI 15985, CI 18820
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Niacinamide
SmoothingSqualane
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctenidine Hcl
AntimicrobialTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasiveSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Silica
AbrasiveAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
EmollientOligopeptide-68
BleachingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Oleate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingSimethicone
EmollientParfum
MaskingCI 16255
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caprylyl Methicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Niacinamide, Squalane, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octenidine Hcl, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Tin Oxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Oligopeptide-68, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Simethicone, Parfum, CI 16255
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTANiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideParfum 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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