What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Niacinamide
SmoothingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Egg Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingDipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-10 Acid Esters
Dimethicone
EmollientN-Stearoyl-Dihydrosphingosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHexyldecyl Hexyldecanoate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantElastin
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl Succinoyl Atelocollagen
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCollagen Powder
HumectantHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSoluble Collagen
HumectantPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningAcrylic Acid
Isostearic Acid
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Polyvinylalcohol Crosspolymer
Cholesterol
EmollientBifida Polysaccharide
HumectantDi-T-Butylhydroquinone
AntioxidantC23-43 Acid Pentaerythritol Tetraester
EmollientDecyltetradeceth-20
EmulsifyingPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingCalcium Dihydrogen Phosphate
BufferingPetrolatum
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantNiacinamide, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Egg Oil, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-10 Acid Esters, Dimethicone, N-Stearoyl-Dihydrosphingosine, Tocopherol, Hexyldecyl Hexyldecanoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Elastin, Myristoyl Succinoyl Atelocollagen, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Collagen Powder, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Soluble Collagen, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Acrylic Acid, Isostearic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Polyvinylalcohol Crosspolymer, Cholesterol, Bifida Polysaccharide, Di-T-Butylhydroquinone, C23-43 Acid Pentaerythritol Tetraester, Decyltetradeceth-20, Potassium Laurate, Disodium Phosphate, Calcium Dihydrogen Phosphate, Petrolatum, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Parfum, Caramel
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Castor Oil Hydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingSuccinoyl Atelocollagen
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylparaben
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Alcohol Denat., Hydrogenated Castor Oil Hydroxystearate, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dimethicone, Astaxanthin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Glycosyl Trehalose, Succinoyl Atelocollagen, Punica Granatum Extract, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Parfum, Caramel
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolWe don't have a description for Caramel yet.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin 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 GlycerinMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenParfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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