What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoconut Alkanes
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Stearate
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Pectin
Emulsion StabilisingInulin
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXylitol
Humectant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Glucose
Humectant
Alaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAsparagus Officinalis Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Lecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Geraniol
Perfuming
Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citral
Perfuming
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Linolenate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientOleic Acid
Emollient
Iron Oxides
Water, Coconut Alkanes, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Cetyl Stearate, Xylitylglucoside, Pectin, Inulin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Anhydroxylitol, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Isostearyl Isostearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sclerotium Gum, Xylitol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Benzoic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glucose, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Asparagus Officinalis Stem Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Sorbitol, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Stearic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Gluconolactone, Potassium Sorbate, Geraniol, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Citronellol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citral, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Linoleate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Retinyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Oleic Acid, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Carbomer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Bisabolol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Trideceth-6, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Mandelic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 20, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Salicylic Acid, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that 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. Just 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 ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDisodium 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 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
