What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPolysilicone-11
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingAlcohol
AntimicrobialMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBoron Nitride
AbsorbentDecyloxazolidinone
AntimicrobialMagnesium Sulfate
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingXylitol
HumectantPropylene Carbonate
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingMenthoxypropanediol
MaskingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSaponins
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantGeraniol
PerfumingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCitral
PerfumingAframomum Angustifolium Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Flower Extract
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Niacinamide, Polysilicone-11, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Alcohol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, CI 77891, Parfum, Mica, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Boron Nitride, Decyloxazolidinone, Magnesium Sulfate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Xylitol, Propylene Carbonate, Citric Acid, Menthoxypropanediol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sodium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Saponins, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Aluminum Hydroxide, CI 77491, Tocopherol, Geraniol, Saccharide Isomerate, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, CI 77492, Citral, Aframomum Angustifolium Seed Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAmodimethicone
Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
AntimicrobialSodium Tocopheryl Phosphate
AntioxidantIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Phenoxyethanol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Amodimethicone, Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide, Carbomer, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate, Iris Florentina Root Extract, BHT, CI 19140, CI 14700, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene 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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol 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