What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sucrose
HumectantPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingFragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningPropylene Carbonate
SolventParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantGlucose
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBHT
AntioxidantCitral
PerfumingSucrose, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Propylene Carbonate, Parfum, Limonene, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Fructose, Glucose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caramel, Glycerin, Water, Potassium Sorbate, BHT, Citral
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingFructose
HumectantPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
AstringentJojoba Esters
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAlgae Extract
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientMedicago Sativa Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
AbrasivePrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
AbrasiveEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Succinate
AntioxidantNiacin
SmoothingSesamum Indicum Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningMel
EmollientDiamond Powder
AbrasiveCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningSpirulina Platensis Powder
Skin ProtectingGlycerin
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientMolasses Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningOlus Oil
EmollientTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveParfum
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Fructose, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Jojoba Esters, Propylene Carbonate, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Tocopherol, Algae Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Water, Mel, Diamond Powder, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Spirulina Platensis Powder, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Maris Sal, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Molasses Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Beta-Carotene, Acetyl Glucosamine, Faex Extract, Olus Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Parfum, BHT, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Limonene, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil is from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant. It is a skin conditioning agent and emollient that sits on top of skin to soften and hydrate it.
Over 98% of the oil is made up of long-chain fatty acids, mostly aachidic acid (61%), docosenoic acid (~16%), and docosadienoic acid (~18%).
This combination is not really found in any other plant oil and is the reason this is one of the most stable botanical oils available.
Some studies show it to be more stable than jojoba oil, helps a product resist going rancid, and can help extend the shelf life of a formula.
It also naturally contains vitamin E and phytosterols that give it a mild antioxidant benefit.
This ingredient is typically used from around 1% to fairly high levels since it's gentle; it's well-tolerated and low on the irritation scale.
Learn more about Limnanthes Alba Seed OilLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneThough this ingredient might sound like a juicy fruit extract, it's actually the fat pressed from the mango seed kernel (or the pit).
In skincare, it behaves more like shea butter and cocoa butter than like a plant active.
The fatty acid makeup of mango seed butter makes it special; it's typically rich in stearic acid and oleic acid, with small amounts of palmitic and linoleic acid.
This combo helps it melt on skin, feel creamy, and leave behind a protective "seal" that slows down water loss.
It also contains a small amount of "extras" like tocopherols (vitamin E) and phytosterols, which are often used to support skin soothing.
Due to its fatty acid content (like oleic acid), this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. In vitro studies have shown that Oleic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
Learn more about Mangifera Indica Seed ButterParfum 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 ParfumPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate is a synthetic, water-soluble surfactant and emulsifier.
It's a "superfatting" agent that helps replenish some of your skin's oils after they're stripped away by other surfactants.
This is why "gentle" and "moisturizing" cleansers feel less stripping than basic ones.
Typical concentrations range from 1-10% and it has a solid safety record. The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe at concentrations up to 10% in leave-on products.
Dermal application tests at 50% also did not produce irritation in two studies.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe and in vitro studies have shown Malassezia can metabolize it.
Learn more about PEG-7 Glyceryl CocoateThis ingredient is a solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonateThis ingredient is an emollient designed to leave a non-greasy feel. It is also a skin conditioning agent and viscosity modifier.
Skin irritation studies for this ingredient (up to 80%) showed mimimal to no irritation.
One thing worth knowing: this ingredient may enhance the skin penetration of other ingredients.
Overall, this ingredient is a well-tolerated and lightweight emollient.
Learn more about Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/DicaprateStearalkonium Hectorite is a clay-derived ingredient used to thicken a product and help create a gel-like texture.
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