What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientCeteareth-3
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantRetinol
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCeteareth-20
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTriethanolamine
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Ceteareth-3, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maris Sal, Oryza Sativa Starch, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Ceteareth-20, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Triethanolamine, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Coumarin
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
C9-12 Alkane
SolventGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientSucrose Stearate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingJojoba Esters
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Benzyl Glycol
SolventBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAvena Sativa Straw Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentCanavalia Gladiata Extract
AstringentWater, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, C9-12 Alkane, Glyceryl Caprylate, Dimethicone, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Stearic Acid, Arginine, Carbomer, Polysorbate 60, Squalane, Sucrose Stearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Parfum, Jojoba Esters, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Benzyl Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Avena Sativa Straw Extract, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Canavalia Gladiata Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum 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 ParfumTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. 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