What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingGlycogen
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Linoleic Acid
CleansingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium PCA, Polysorbate 20, Glycogen, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Linoleic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Tocopherol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPolyacrylamide
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAlgae Extract
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates/Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingHydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
MaskingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polyacrylamide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Algae Extract, Dimethicone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Acrylates/Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Limonene, Citral, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Hydroxycitronellal
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylphenyl Methylpropional is a synthetic fragrance. You might know it as "lilial". The scent of this ingredient is floral-like and similar to the scent of lily flowers.
In March of 2022, the EU banned this ingredient in both rinse-off and leave-on products. This is because research found Butylphenyl Methylpropional to disrupt fertility in rats.
This ingredient is also a known EU allergen, meaning it is likely to cause an allergic reaction. Irritated skin can be damaging.
We always recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns or questions about this ingredient.
Learn more about Butylphenyl MethylpropionalDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 LimoneneParfum 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 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 Water