What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantPEG-8
HumectantLinalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Alcohol Denat., Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, PEG-8, Linalool, Geraniol, Carbomer, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Limonene, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C13-15 Alkane
SolventPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Arginine
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Maltose
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Pectin
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-8
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Cydonia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTapioca Starch
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, C13-15 Alkane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Arginine, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Citric Acid, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fructose, Glucose, Glyceryl Laurate, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Lecithin, Maltose, Panthenol, Parfum, Pectin, PEG-8, Pentylene Glycol, Proline, Pyrus Cydonia Fruit Extract, Serine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tapioca Starch, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trehalose, Urea, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 ParfumPEG-8 is a synthetic polymer used as a humectant and solvent.
This ingredient is able to help dissolve active ingredients, including water. This gives it humectant properties.
It is soluble in water. The number '8' stands for the molecular weight of the ingredient.
Learn more about PEG-8Phenoxyethanol 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 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 HydroxideWater. 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
