What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Magnesium Sulfate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate
Emollient
Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Isohexadecane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Synthetic Wax, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Sulfate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77163, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Medicago Sativa Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
Abrasive
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Succinate
Antioxidant
Niacin
SmoothingSesamum Indicum Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Crithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningCrithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate
Skin ProtectingBambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Cleansing
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-8
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Glucosamine Hcl
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Algae Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glycerin, Silica, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Hyaluronate, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Faex Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caffeine, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PEG-8, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 60, Glucosamine Hcl, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 20, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Geraniol, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Benzoate, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, CI 15985
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium 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 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium 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
