What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingPropanediol
SolventOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPlukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-5 Oleate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingHydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
AntioxidantBoerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
AntioxidantAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isopropyl Myristate, Squalane, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ceteareth-20, Propanediol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ceramide NP, Polyglyceryl-5 Oleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Tocopherol, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSucrose
HumectantFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientMedicago Sativa Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
AbrasiveHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
AbrasiveEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Succinate
AntioxidantNiacin
SmoothingSesamum Indicum Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
CleansingLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantAlcaligenes Polysaccharides
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningTourmaline
Urea
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantGlycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingGlycosaminoglycans
EmollientGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantMagnesium Chloride
Calcium Chloride
AstringentSodium Sulfate
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Nitrate
SoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTriacetin
AntimicrobialLecithin
EmollientPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingJojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
SurfactantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSorbic Acid
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Algae Extract, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sucrose, Faex Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Plankton Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glycereth-26, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Trehalose, Lactobacillus Ferment, Maris Sal, Tourmaline, Urea, Sodium PCA, Glycine Soja Protein, Glycosaminoglycans, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-8, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Sulfate, Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Nitrate, Pentylene Glycol, Triacetin, Lecithin, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Polysorbate 20, Polyquaternium-51, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Alcohol Denat., Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Geraniol, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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