What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantUrea
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantTrehalose
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTriacetin
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingIsoeugenyl Acetate
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingTerpineol
MaskingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Isododecane, Glycerin, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium PCA, Urea, Tocopherol, Trehalose, Hexylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, Caprylyl Glycol, Triacetin, Benzyl Salicylate, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Hexyl Cinnamal, Isoeugenyl Acetate, Linalool, Terpineol, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Water
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTanacetum Annuum Flower Oil
MaskingCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicCurcuma Longa Root Extract
AntioxidantSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientEugenol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingTriethyl Citrate
MaskingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingGlyceryl Undecylenate
EmollientGlyceryl Laurate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Limonene
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCitral
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingFarnesol
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Linalool, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Eugenol, Coumarin, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glyceryl Laurate, Glycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Limonene, Tocopherol, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Hexyl Cinnamal, Farnesol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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