What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingRosa Damascena Flower Extract
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMenthoxypropanediol
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaramel
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dimethicone
EmollientOenothera Biennis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientHydroxylated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTrehalose
HumectantUrea
BufferingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingSerine
MaskingBetaine
HumectantInositol
HumectantTaurine
BufferingAlgin
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Citric Acid
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeRosa Damascena Flower Water, Water, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Menthoxypropanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caramel, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Propanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dimethicone, Oenothera Biennis Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Hydroxylated Lecithin, Trehalose, Urea, Laureth-7, Serine, Betaine, Inositol, Taurine, Algin, BHT, Acacia Senegal Gum, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Citric Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Sorbate
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientC12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientChondrus Crispus Powder
AbrasivePropylene Glycol
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
EmollientJasminum Grandiflorum Flower Wax
MaskingLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningNarcissus Poeticus Flower Wax
MaskingPEG-8
HumectantJasminum Officinale Oil
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCitronellol
PerfumingSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantPelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingGeraniol
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantLinalool
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantRosa Damascena Flower Water, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, CI 77891, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Propylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Jasminum Grandiflorum Flower Wax, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Narcissus Poeticus Flower Wax, PEG-8, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Linalool, Eugenol, Ascorbic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer 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 CarbomerCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil is an essential oil made from the Damask Rose. It is often used as a fragrance in cosmetics.
Rose Oil has antibacterial and antioxidant properties due to its terpene, glycoside, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and Vitamin C content.
Other major parts of Rose Oil include citronellol and geraniol. Both of these are known EU allergens and cause contact-allergies.
The downsides of this ingredient outweight the positives.
Learn more about Rosa Damascena Flower OilRosa Damascena Flower Water is the water-based byproduct of steam-distilling damask rose petals. It has skin conditioning, masking, and skin protecting properties.
Research shows that Rosa damascena is rich in flavonoids and phenolic compounds like gallic acid that contribute to its antioxidant activity.
In vitro studies have shown that Rosa damascena can scavenge free radicals and reduce melanin overproduction. Research has also found this extract offers some degree of UV absorption but this should not replace your sunscreen.
Learn more about Rosa Damascena Flower WaterSodium 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 HydroxideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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