What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Indicum Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 60, Glyceryl Stearate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Chrysanthemum Indicum Callus Culture Extract, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Allantoin, Myristyl Alcohol, Cellulose Gum, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingMethylparaben
PreservativeVitis Vinifera Callus Culture Extract
Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientLecithin
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingSqualane
EmollientPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Polyacrylamide, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenyl Trimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, Vitis Vinifera Callus Culture Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Lecithin, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Squalane, Phytosterols, Ceramide NP, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Allantoin, Panthenol, Betaine, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCarbomer 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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.
Water. 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