What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCocoglycerides
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
EmollientHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantEthyl Linoleate
EmollientEthyl Linolenate
EmollientEthyl Oleate
EmollientEthyl Palmitate
EmollientEthyl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingLecithin
EmollientResveratrol
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingC13-15 Alkane, Cocoglycerides, Octyldodecanol, Isoamyl Laurate, Coco-Caprylate, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Alcohol Denat., Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Water, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Ethyl Linoleate, Ethyl Linolenate, Ethyl Oleate, Ethyl Palmitate, Ethyl Stearate, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Lactic Acid, Lecithin, Resveratrol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSinorhizobium Meliloti Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBrassica Napus Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantEpigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soybean Fiber
Skin ProtectingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
BufferingLecithin
EmollientParfum
MaskingPeucedanum Graveolens Extract
TonicPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePinus Nigra Bud/Needle Extract
AntimicrobialPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-5 Laurate
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Pentylene Glycol, Sinorhizobium Meliloti Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Brassica Napus Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hexapeptide-11, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Soybean Fiber, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lactic Acid, Lecithin, Parfum, Peucedanum Graveolens Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Pinus Nigra Bud/Needle Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyglyceryl-5 Laurate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinParfum 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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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 ParfumPotassium 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 SorbateSodium 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 BenzoateTocopherol 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