What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
UV Absorber
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Arbutin
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Beeswax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Arbutin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Adenosine, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Isoceteth-10
EmulsifyingStearamide Amp
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Carbonate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Stearic Acid, Niacinamide, Cyclohexasiloxane, Homosalate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glycol Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Silica, Isoceteth-10, Stearamide Amp, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Carbonate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Chloride
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum 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 ParfumTocopheryl 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 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
