What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
EmulsifyingCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantOctyldodecanol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientParfum
MaskingSteareth-21
CleansingSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates Copolymer
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingTerpineol
MaskingDimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate
PerfumingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Parfum, Steareth-21, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phytic Acid, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Terpineol, Dimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientParfum
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhytic Acid
Pantolactone
HumectantHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Coco-Betaine, Glycerin, Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Tocopherol, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Propylene Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Phytic Acid, Pantolactone, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 ParfumPhytic Acid is a gentle AHA and antioxidant. AHAs are chemical exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells. Phytic Acid has a slight and mild exfoliating effect.
The chemical makeup makes it classified as an AHA, much like lactic acid.
In some cases, it is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water, helping to stabilize the ingredients in a product.
An interesting fact about phytic acid is that it is considered an antinutrient. People do not have the enzyme needed to properly breakdown and digest phytic acid. When ingested, phytic acid binds to minerals and prevents them from being absorbed.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Phytic AcidTocopherol 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 Water