What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sh-Oligopeptide-78
Palmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingArginine
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyquaternium-10
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer, Propanediol, Pvp, Polysorbate 20, Benzyl Alcohol, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sh-Oligopeptide-78, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Arginine, Glycerin, Levulinic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyquaternium-10, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Polyitaconate
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Tilia Tomentosa Bud Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Arctium Majus Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientHedera Helix Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLamium Album Extract
AstringentNasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
Pinus Sylvestris Bud Extract
Perfuming
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingTropaeolum Majus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentPvp
Emulsion StabilisingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin/Vp Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Sodium Polyitaconate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, Tilia Tomentosa Bud Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf Extract, Lamium Album Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Bud Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tropaeolum Majus Flower Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Maltodextrin, Cyclodextrin, Pvp, Sclerotium Gum, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Phytic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinWe don't have a description for Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer yet.
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 ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolPvp is a water-soluble synthetic polymer and common hairstyling ingredient. It is a film-forming ingredient and used to "hold" specific shapes of hair.
Pvp is less effective in high-humidity. It tends to draw moisture, but this moisture dismantles the structure and "hold".
Water. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
