What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Niacinamide
SmoothingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-10 Acid Esters
Methicone
EmollientN-Stearoyl-Dihydrosphingosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantSodium 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
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCholesterol
EmollientBifida Polysaccharide
HumectantBHT
AntioxidantC23-43 Acid Pentaerythritol Tetraester
EmollientPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPetrolatum
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantNiacinamide, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-10 Acid Esters, Methicone, N-Stearoyl-Dihydrosphingosine, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, 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, Carbomer, Cholesterol, Bifida Polysaccharide, BHT, C23-43 Acid Pentaerythritol Tetraester, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Potassium Laurate, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium 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.
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.
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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinMethylparaben 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water