What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Sorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Betaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingRose Flower Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSwiftlet Nest Extract
Skin ConditioningCaulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingChrysanthemum Indicum Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicParfum
MaskingTriethanolamine
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hyaluronic Acid, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Callus Culture Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Parfum, Triethanolamine
Water
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantLactose
HumectantCellulose
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract
AbrasiveJania Rubens Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Hyaluronic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Jojoba Esters, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lactose, Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract, Jania Rubens Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer 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 CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinHamamelis Virginiana Extract comes from the witch hazel plant.
Unless it is specified to be non-alcohol, many types of witch hazel ingredients are distilled in denatured alcohol.
Witch Hazel has astringent, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties.
The tannin content of witch hazel constrict the appearance of pores by drying out proteins. Witch hazel water gets anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties from its catechin and gallic acid content.
However, witch hazel may be skin-sensitizing due to the tannin and fragrance compounds.
North American Indigenous groups have used witch hazel to help treat inflammation for centuries.
Learn more about Hamamelis Virginiana ExtractHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidParfum 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 ParfumTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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