What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCalcium Pantetheine Sulfonate
Skin ConditioningCassia Mimosoides Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingCrocus Sativus Flower Extract
MaskingEchinacea Angustifolia Leaf Extract
MoisturisingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningKojic Acid
AntioxidantLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentPinus Sylvestris Cone Extract
MaskingRhodiola Sacra Root Extract
EmollientThymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialZizyphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Benzophenone-5
UV AbsorberCholesterol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Disodium Succinate
MaskingGellan Gum
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydroxylated Lecithin
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientOleyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSuccinic Acid
BufferingTrimethylolpropane Triisostearate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Pantetheine Sulfonate, Cassia Mimosoides Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Kojic Acid, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Cone Extract, Rhodiola Sacra Root Extract, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Tocopherol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Zizyphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Benzophenone-5, Cholesterol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Succinate, Gellan Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxylated Lecithin, Lecithin, Oleyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Succinic Acid, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Caramel
Water
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNylon-12
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Boron Nitride
AbsorbentPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPEG-20 Sorbitan Cocoate
EmulsifyingInositol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingUndecylenoyl Phenylalanine
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Prunus Domestica
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingHexyldecanol
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingCitrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
PreservativeAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Triethylhexanoin, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Nylon-12, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Boron Nitride, Panthenol, PEG-20 Sorbitan Cocoate, Inositol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Polyacrylamide, Aminomethyl Propanol, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Benzyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Prunus Domestica, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Hexyldecanol, Laureth-7, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Methylparaben, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Parfum, Limonene, Citronellol, Linalool, Geraniol, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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.
Tocopherol 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