What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientBenzoic Acid
MaskingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingCitronellol
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingSodium Citrate
BufferingSoluble Collagen
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Phenoxyethanol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Benzoic Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Sodium Anisate, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Sodium Citrate, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberSucrose Polystearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolygonum Bistorta Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ProtectingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTetrasodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Sucrose Polystearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract, Sophora Japonica Flower Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Parfum, Limonene, Citronellol, Citral, Geraniol, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholAlso known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCitric 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 AcidCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolEthylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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