What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCellulose
Absorbent
Kaolin
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract
MaskingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Cellulose, Kaolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Isododecane, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Pentylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Carnosine, Disodium Phosphate, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Xanthan Gum
Kaolin
Abrasive
Water
Skin ConditioningBentonite
Absorbent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Centipeda Cunninghamii Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Bark/Twig Extract
AstringentPunica Granatum Sterols
Skin Conditioning
Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Kaolin, Water, Bentonite, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Centipeda Cunninghamii Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Twig Extract, Punica Granatum Sterols, Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lactic Acid, CI 77491, Parfum, Glycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, 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 GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
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.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractKaolin is a clay. It is used for oil control and to help minimize pores. Like other clays, kaolin has the ability to absorb excess sebum or oil. This can help clean out pores and mattify the skin.
Some types of kaolin may have exfoliating properties. When water is added to kaolin, it becomes a paste with small abrasive particles.
Most kaolin is a white color, but may be pink/orange/red depending on where it comes from.
The name 'kaolin' comes from a Chinese village named 'Gaoling'. Kaolin clay comes from rocks rich in kaolinite. Kaolinite, the mineral, has a silicate layered structure. Kaolinite is formed from chemical weathering of aluminum siilicate minerals.
Besides skincare, kaolin is commonly used to make glossy paper, in ceramics, toothpaste, and as medicine to soothe stomach issues.
Learn more about KaolinParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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
