What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberDiethylhexyl Succinate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Honey
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHydrolyzed Mango Juice Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract
AntioxidantOak Root Extract
Skin ConditioningIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
PerfumingCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSesbania Sesban Leaf Extract
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCerium Oxide
Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCarnitine
CleansingLactic Acid
BufferingGlucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningKunzea Pomifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Indicum Extract
AntioxidantZea Mays Oil
EmulsifyingPantetheine Sulfonate
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantPlatinum
AntimicrobialSorbitol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSodium Phosphate
BufferingMenthol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
T-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEicosapentaenoic Acid
EmollientIron Oxides
Alumina
AbrasivePEG-60 Almond Glycerides
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAlcohol
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingMica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDiamond Powder
AbrasiveParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Honey, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydrolyzed Mango Juice Extract, Hydrolyzed Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract, Oak Root Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Ceramide NP, Retinol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sesbania Sesban Leaf Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Yeast Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Cerium Oxide, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Caffeine, Carnitine, Lactic Acid, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Kunzea Pomifera Fruit Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Extract, Zea Mays Oil, Pantetheine Sulfonate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Platinum, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Sodium Phosphate, Menthol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Titanium Dioxide, Octocrylene, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Iron Oxides, Alumina, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Diamond Powder, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingAristotelia Chilensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Glycine Soja Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Isostearyl Isostearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Triheptanoin, Ceteareth-20, Aristotelia Chilensis Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isohexadecane, Maltodextrin, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum
Alternatives
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinParfum 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.
Jojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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