What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningUndecane
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSteareth-21
CleansingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantTridecane
PerfumingButylene Glycol
HumectantCeteareth-20
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBisabolol
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningDeschampsia Antarctica Leaf Extract
AntioxidantRetinol
Skin ConditioningHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPhenylpropanol
MaskingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantUrea
BufferingYeast Amino Acids
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrehalose
HumectantInositol
HumectantTaurine
BufferingBetaine
HumectantSilica
AbrasivePalmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
Abrasive1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBHA
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingWater, Undecane, Pentylene Glycol, Isostearyl Isostearate, Trisiloxane, Glycerin, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tridecane, Butylene Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Deschampsia Antarctica Leaf Extract, Retinol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Zea Mays Starch, Titanium Dioxide, Phenylpropanol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Mica, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Silica, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Tin Oxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 20, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, BHA, BHT, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
EmulsifyingSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantFructose
HumectantGlucose
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeUrea
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingSerine
MaskingSorbitol
HumectantMethylparaben
PreservativeDextrin
AbsorbentSucrose
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Propylparaben
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantHexyl Nicotinate
EmollientParfum
MaskingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingWater, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Pentylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Hexylene Glycol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fructose, Glucose, Phenoxyethanol, Urea, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Serine, Sorbitol, Methylparaben, Dextrin, Sucrose, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Allantoin, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate, Parfum, Geraniol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 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 GlycolTocopheryl 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 AcetateUrea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Urea is actually one of the more well-studied and well-supported ingredients out there if you have eczema.
Clinical trials have shown that urea creams in the 5 - 10% range can:
Higher concentrations (20 -30%) can also help with thickened, scaly patches but is also more likely to sting on active flares.
Skip urea if you have rosacea. The AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) lists it alongside alcohol, menthol, and fragrance as a potential irritant for rosacea-prone skin. Urea's keratolytic and penetration-enhancing properties can trigger stinging, burning, and redness.
As always, your skin is unique, so definitely check in with your dermatologist.
Learn more about UreaWater. 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