What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingNigella Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Barley Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingButylene Glycol
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAmyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Martini Oil
MaskingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingChlorophyllin-Copper Complex
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRhizobian Gum
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeWater, Coco-Caprylate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Propanediol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Betaine, Polysorbate 60, Chlorphenesin, Hydrolyzed Barley Protein, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Caramel, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Limonene, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Maltodextrin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Geraniol, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rhizobian Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dehydroacetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientRosa Moschata Oil
AstringentBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantImidazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Glycerin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Rosa Moschata Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Carbomer, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene, Citral
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidBenzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDehydroacetic Acid is fungicide and bactericide. It is used as a preservative in cosmetics. Preservatives help elongate the shelf life of a product.
Dehydroacetic Acid is not soluble in water.
Disodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearateLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl 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