What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyimide-1
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-73
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Vp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Water, Polyimide-1, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Polyquaternium-73, Decyl Glucoside, Vp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Amyl Cinnamal, Citral, Linalool, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningVp/Va Copolymer
Isobutane
Propane
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
CleansingHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycerin
Humectant
Sargassum Filipendula Extract
Skin ProtectingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Algin
Masking
Carrageenan
Chitosan
Gelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Oleth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyquaternium-4
Parfum
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cetrimonium Bromide
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Silicone Quaternium-3
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Polyurethane-14
Sorbitol
Humectant
Amp-Acrylates Copolymer
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Water, Vp/Va Copolymer, Isobutane, Propane, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Glycerin, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Tocopherol, Algin, Carrageenan, Chitosan, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Oleth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-4, Parfum, Cetyl Alcohol, Laureth-4, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cetrimonium Bromide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Myristyl Alcohol, Silicone Quaternium-3, Arachidyl Alcohol, Trideceth-12, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Benzoate, Polyurethane-14, Sorbitol, Amp-Acrylates Copolymer, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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.
Sodium 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 BenzoateTocopherol 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
