What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientArginine Ferulate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhytic Acid
Levulinic Acid
PerfumingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingBentonite
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Octyldodecanol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Arginine Ferulate, Pentylene Glycol, Lauroyl Lysine, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytic Acid, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Parfum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Bentonite, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingTocotrienols
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSqualene
EmollientArginine
MaskingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHexamidine Diisethionate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C14-22 Alcohols, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Squalene, Arginine, Beta-Sitosterol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hexamidine Diisethionate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, T-Butyl Alcohol, CI 15985, CI 19140, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredientâs final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopherol 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum