What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientPanax Ginseng Root Water
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPoncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Tocopherol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOctyldodecanol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningVinyldimethicone
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientParfum
MaskingVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPalmitic Acid
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingJuglans Nigra Leaf Extract
AstringentPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSophora Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTrichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientChamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingPinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract
TonicMethylpropanediol
SolventCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBambusa Vulgaris Water
Skin ConditioningCupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract
PerfumingPinus Sylvestris Bud Extract
PerfumingPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingGaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract
PerfumingPrunus Persica Flower Extract
MoisturisingPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantAnemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Olivate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methyl Trimethicone, Vinyldimethicone, C12-16 Alcohols, Parfum, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Cellulose Gum, Juglans Nigra Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Sophora Japonica Leaf Extract, Stearyl Alcohol, Trichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Methylpropanediol, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Bud Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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 ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol 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