What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialPropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAcetic Acid
BufferingBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentMannose
HumectantNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Phytate
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Alcohol, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Acetic Acid, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Limonene, Linalool, Maltodextrin, Mannose, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantRhamnose
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlyceryl Isostearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHexyldecanol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMyristic Acid
CleansingOctyldodecanol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Betaine, Rhamnose, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceramide NP, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glyceryl Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hexyldecanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Myristic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum