What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycereth-26
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningEthyl Hexanediol
SolventHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Citric Acid, Tripeptide-1, Ethyl Hexanediol, Hexapeptide-9, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-11, Nonapeptide-1, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantVolcanic Rock
AbrasivePolymethyl Methacrylate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientNelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialChrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPaullinia Cupana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Glycereth-26
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHoney
HumectantRosa Multiflora Fruit Extract
MaskingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentLigustrum Japonicum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningElsholtzia Splendens Extract
Skin ConditioningSaururus Chinensis Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningHyssopus Officinalis Extract
MaskingBuddleja Davidii Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Vera Callus Extract
AntioxidantPhaseolus Radiatus Meristem Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharide Isomerate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Volcanic Rock, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Paullinia Cupana Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Panthenol, Betaine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium EDTA, Glycereth-26, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Honey, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Ligustrum Japonicum Fruit Extract, Elsholtzia Splendens Extract, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Hyssopus Officinalis Extract, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Aloe Vera Callus Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Meristem Cell Culture Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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.
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 GlycolThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycereth-26 is a synthetic ingredient and polyethylene glycol ether of Glycerin. Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin and helps keep your skin moisturized.
It is a humectant and helps add texture to products. It can make your product thicker.
As a humectant, it helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps your skin stay hydrated.
Learn more about Glycereth-26Glycerin (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 ParfumPolysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Sodium 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 Water