What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHexyldecyl Stearate
EmollientTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientAcacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmollientLecithin
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAlgin
MaskingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentGalactoarabinan
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Glycine Soja Oil
EmollientGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
BufferingLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentMaris Aqua
HumectantMenthyl Lactate
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPullulan
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSerine
MaskingSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTrehalose
HumectantUrea
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingYogurt
Skin ProtectingYogurt Powder
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSalicylic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hexyldecyl Stearate, Triheptanoin, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Acacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Lecithin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Algin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Bisabolol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Distarch Phosphate, Galactoarabinan, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Lactic Acid, Lactobacillus, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Maltodextrin, Maris Aqua, Menthyl Lactate, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Phosphate, Pullulan, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Serine, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trehalose, Urea, Xanthan Gum, Yogurt, Yogurt Powder, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Salicylic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientEthyl Oleate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Wheat Straw Glycosides
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantVitis Vinifera Juice
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Squalane, Ethyl Oleate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Cetearyl Wheat Straw Glycosides, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Vitis Vinifera Juice, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, 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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl 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 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 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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