What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHoney Extract
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Honey Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Caramel, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, CI 19140, CI 15985, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tapioca Starch
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingParfum
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract
MaskingMarrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Epilobium Fleischeri Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantLapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Betaine, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tapioca Starch, Glycerin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Silica, Citric Acid, Epilobium Fleischeri Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 42090, Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Maris Sal
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 “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 ParfumSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
