What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningAleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Algin
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantManganese PCA
HumectantMagnesium PCA
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantZinc PCA
HumectantDimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate
EmollientTrimethylsiloxyamodimethicone
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingC12-16 Alketh-9
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
EmollientCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyamide-2
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyether-1
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantTris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyoxal
AntimicrobialIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Hexamethylindanopyran
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Algin, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Manganese PCA, Magnesium PCA, Sodium PCA, Zinc PCA, Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, C11-15 Pareth-7, C12-16 Alketh-9, Trideceth-12, Dimethiconol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Steartrimonium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Polyamide-2, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyether-1, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phosphate, Glyoxal, Isopropyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Parfum, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Hexamethylindanopyran, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeIsododecane
EmollientCoconut Alkanes
EmollientParfum
MaskingStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCitrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantC9-12 Alkane
SolventPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-37
Amodimethicone
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Acetate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialDidecyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventTrideceth-15
EmulsifyingTrideceth-3
EmulsifyingPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningC11-13 Isoparaffin
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventAcetic Acid
BufferingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isododecane, Coconut Alkanes, Parfum, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Diheptyl Succinate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Squalane, Wheat Amino Acids, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Panthenol, Glycerin, Hydroxyproline, Sodium PCA, C9-12 Alkane, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyquaternium-37, Amodimethicone, Citric Acid, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Phytate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Didecyldimonium Chloride, Methylpropanediol, Trideceth-15, Trideceth-3, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, C11-13 Isoparaffin, Caprylyl Glycol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Acetic Acid, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneParfum 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 PCA (the salt of PCA) is one of the most well-established humectants in skincare.
Why is it so special? Your skin already makes it naturally; it's a natural component of your skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), or the mix of water-binding compounds inside your skin cells that keeps things soft and hydrated.
As a cosmetic ingredient, it grabs water and holds it in the upper layers of skin to smooth roughness and ease dehydration.
There's some clinical support for the NMF approach with a study showing that a cream built to mimic the skin's NMF significantly boosted hydration.
Safety-wise, this ingredient non-irritating, non-comedogenic, and non-phototoxic in testing, with minimal skin absorption.
It also works really well with other hydrators like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, and typical usage is somewhere between 0.2-4%.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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