What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingKalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract
MaskingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingArbutus Unedo Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Crocus Sativus Flower Extract
MaskingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61565
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Betaine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Alcohol, Tocopherol, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Arbutus Unedo Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract, CI 42090, CI 61565
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingVitreoscilla Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Ethylenediamine
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Octyldodecanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Ethylenediamine, Pentylene Glycol, Faex Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Tocopherol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidParfum 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 ParfumSodium 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 BenzoateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
