What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
PCA
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Coco-Caprylate, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Diheptyl Succinate, Ceramide NP, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gum, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Sodium Lactate, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, PCA, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Phytate, Benzyl Alcohol, Mica, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77891, CI 77491, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Parfum, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysilicone-11
Silica
Abrasive
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Poloxamer 338
EmulsifyingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
Emollient
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Potassium Hydroxide, Polysilicone-11, Silica, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Poloxamer 338, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Laureth-7, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Salicylic Acid, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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
