What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sucrose Palmitate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Escin
TonicSalicylic Acid
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Isohexadecane
EmollientBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Glucose
Humectant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Chloride
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Calcium Chloride
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPropylene Glycol Alginate
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Histidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningTryptophan
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Cystine
MaskingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Asparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Ornithine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningAtelocollagen
Skin Conditioning
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Methionine
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Coenzyme A
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Glucuronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Thiamine Diphosphate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Inositol
Humectant
Niacin
SmoothingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCalcium Pantothenate
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Tocopheryl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sucrose Palmitate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Sodium Chloride, Glyceryl Linoleate, Carbomer, Lecithin, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Tocopheryl Acetate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Parfum, Escin, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Caffeine, Isohexadecane, Beta-Sitosterol, Glucose, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Chloride, Polysorbate 60, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Magnesium Sulfate, Glutamine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Phosphate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Benzoate, Lysine Hcl, Arginine Hcl, Alanine, Trihydroxystearin, Histidine Hcl, Valine, Leucine, Threonine, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Isoleucine, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Glycine, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Serine, Cystine, Cyanocobalamin, Glutathione, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Ornithine Hcl, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Glutamic Acid, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Atelocollagen, Proline, Methionine, Taurine, Hydroxyproline, Glucosamine Hcl, Tocopherol, Coenzyme A, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Glucuronate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Thiamine Diphosphate, Retinyl Acetate, Inositol, Niacin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hcl, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate, Thiamine Hcl, Folic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polysilicone-11
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetic Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Mannose
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Linalool
Perfuming
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGeraniol
Perfuming
Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCitronellol
Perfuming
Alumina
Abrasive
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dimethicone, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat., Polysilicone-11, Silica, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, CI 77891, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Lactic Acid, Lactobacillus, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Adenosine, Faex Extract, Acetic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Chlorphenesin, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Maltodextrin, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Dimethiconol, Limonene, Mannose, Pentylene Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Linalool, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Carbomer, Boron Nitride, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Geraniol, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Citronellol, Alumina, 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.
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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 ParfumSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSynthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteTocopherol 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 Water
