What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArctium Lappa Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCreatine
Skin Conditioning1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin ConditioningIsobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol
BleachingPantolactone
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantTapioca Starch
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingDimethicone
EmollientTrisodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arctium Lappa Fruit Extract, Creatine, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Isobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol, Pantolactone, Tocopherol, Tapioca Starch, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Trisodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantC9-12 Alkane
SolventVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAlgin
MaskingHydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
EmollientPalmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
AntioxidantGlycolic Acid
BufferingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientBisabolol
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCalcium Citrate
BufferingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTriethyl Citrate
MaskingArginine
MaskingSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantPapain
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingWater, Squalane, Glycerin, C9-12 Alkane, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Arachidyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Algin, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, Glycolic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Calcium Citrate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Triethyl Citrate, Arginine, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Papain, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Ā
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesĀ
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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 hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
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 HydroxideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skinās lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. 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