What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Betaine
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Seyal Gum Extract
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Niacinamide, Betaine, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Beta-Glucan, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenyl Trimethicone, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Panthenol, Copper Tripeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-4, Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract, Parfum, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Caffeine
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Ceramide NP, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract, Oligopeptide-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 ParfumPeg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil comes from hydrogenated castor oil. It is a solubilizer and emulsifier.
As a solubilizer, it helps dissolve ingredients into a water-based version. It is also an emulsifer. Emulsifier help prevent oils and water from separating. Both these properties help create evenly-spread and uniform products.
Basically, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil helps hold ingredients together.
Learn more about PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor OilSodium 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
