What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingZinc PCA
HumectantPolymethyl Methacrylate
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
BufferingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBHT
AntioxidantBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingArginine
MaskingCitral
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Polyacrylamide, Sclerotium Gum, Zinc PCA, Polymethyl Methacrylate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Laureth-7, Lactic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Madecassoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, BHT, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Arginine, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantLecithin
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Benzoate
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Salicylate
PreservativeSalicylic Acid
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Glycereth-26, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Salicylate, Salicylic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 ParfumSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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