What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-40/PPG-8 Methylaminopropyl/Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Copolymer
Parfum
Masking
Polyacrylamide
PEG-75 Lanolin
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Acrylates Copolymer
Polyurethane-34
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Trideceth-9 Pg-Amodimethicone
Skin Conditioning
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantLaureth-7
EmulsifyingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Propylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, PEG-40/PPG-8 Methylaminopropyl/Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Copolymer, Parfum, Polyacrylamide, PEG-75 Lanolin, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates Copolymer, Polyurethane-34, Cetearyl Alcohol, Trideceth-9 Pg-Amodimethicone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dipropylene Glycol, Laureth-7, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cyclodextrin, Trideceth-12, Polysorbate 80, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Amyl Cinnamal, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningTapioca Starch
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyquaternium-37
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-28
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Tapioca Starch, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyquaternium-37, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Caryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil, Polyquaternium-28, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sorbitan Oleate, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Parfum, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Coumarin, Limonene
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 GlycerinLimonene 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 LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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.
Tocopherol 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
