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 ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Diethylhexyl Succinate
EmollientAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract
EmollientPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
Skin ConditioningLactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Bambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Algae Extract
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingGlucosamine Hcl
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Trisiloxane, Trehalose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Lactis Proteinum, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Niacinamide, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Caffeine, Algae Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium PCA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Ergothioneine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Hexylene Glycol, Glucosamine Hcl, Laureth-7, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Lecithin, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
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 DimethiconeDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateDisodium 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 GlycerinThis is a silicone-polyether copolymer with skin conditioning, emulsifying, texture enhancing, and surfactant properties. It is used to help blend water and silicone based ingredients to improve slip and spreadability.
Due to its large molecular size and hydrophilic-lipophilic structure (it loves both oil and water), this ingredient is minimally absorbed into the skin.
Parfum 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.
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 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
