What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLysolecithin
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pullulan
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Methyl Gluceth-20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Biotin, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lysolecithin, Panthenol, Pullulan, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Silica, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
Astringent
C12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, C12-13 Pareth-9, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Zinc PCA, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Copper Gluconate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 BenzoateWater. 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
