What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientDibutyl Adipate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentMethylpropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientAcrylic Acid/Vp Crosspolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPiroctone Olamine
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBHT
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingWater, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Squalane, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dibutyl Adipate, Glyceryl Stearate, Distarch Phosphate, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, PEG-40 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Dimethicone, Acrylic Acid/Vp Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Piroctone Olamine, Phenoxyethanol, BHT, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOxothiazolidinecarboxylic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSalicylic Acid
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Ceramide AP, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Isononyl Isononanoate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Oxothiazolidinecarboxylic Acid, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, 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 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