What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Ethylhexanoate
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientMoringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientArbutin
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingJojoba Esters
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantPhytonadione Epoxide
AstringentTranexamic Acid
AstringentDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningLithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPEG-75 Stearate
SurfactantPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingBHT
AntioxidantBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantWater, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Ethylhexanoate, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Arbutin, Niacinamide, Jojoba Esters, Bisabolol, Phytonadione Epoxide, Tranexamic Acid, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Dimethicone, PEG-75 Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, BHT, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientOlus Oil
EmollientDipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate
EmulsifyingTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCandelilla Cera
EmollientUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhenylpropanol
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPEG-75 Stearate
SurfactantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTridecyl Stearate
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingNeopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingMelatonin
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
PEG-8
HumectantKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caffeine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Maltodextrin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Behenyl Alcohol, Olus Oil, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Candelilla Cera, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenylpropanol, Xanthan Gum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-75 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Tridecyl Stearate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Melatonin, Parfum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Disodium EDTA, PEG-8, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited.
Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateThis ingredient is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to mix water and oil, stabilize emulsions, and aid in cleansing.
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 AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum 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 ParfumPEG-75 Stearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSteareth-20 is an emulsifier and solubilizer. It is created from stearyl alcohol with ~20 units of ethylene oxide to give it a strong preference for water.
As an emulsifier, it helps oil-in-water emulsions like lotions, creams, and cleansers stay stable. It also solubilizes small amounts of oil-loving ingredients (like fragrance) into water-based formulas.
You'll likely find this ingredient with steareth-2 (it's oil-loving sister) where the two work together to give products a cushiony feel.
Typical use levels sit at around 1-5% and this ingredient has been found to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel.
Learn more about Steareth-20Tocopherol 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