What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Seed Oil
Emollient
Entada Phaseoloides Bark/Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Dimethiconol Cysteine
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Manganese PCA
HumectantSqualane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilicone Quaternium-3
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingPEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzisothiazolinone
AntimicrobialParfum
Masking
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Entada Phaseoloides Bark/Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dimethiconol Cysteine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Sodium PCA, Magnesium PCA, Zinc PCA, Manganese PCA, Squalane, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Ascorbic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glycol Distearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silicone Quaternium-3, Trideceth-12, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, PEG-150 Distearate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzisothiazolinone, Parfum, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Orbignya Speciosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Keratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Coffea Arabica Seed Oil
Masking
Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol Meadowfoamate
EmollientSodium PCA
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Manganese PCA
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberPolysilicone-15
UV Filter
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
CI 26100
Cosmetic ColorantCI 47000
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Orbignya Speciosa Kernel Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Keratin Amino Acids, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract, Dimethiconol Meadowfoamate, Sodium PCA, Magnesium PCA, Zinc PCA, Manganese PCA, Isopropyl Palmitate, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Polysilicone-15, Propylene Glycol, Water, Parfum, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, CI 26100, CI 47000
Alternatives
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 the magnesium salt of PCA (Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid). It is a great skin hydrator for the top layers of skin.
PCA is a natural humectant, meaning it draws water from the air to your outer layer of skin.
One study found magnesium ions improved skin hydration in the outer layer of skin, or the stratum corneum. However, it did not improve TEWL, or the transepidermal water loss. The TEWL is an indicator of how healthy your skin barrier function is. This study primarily looked at healthy skin with intact skin barrier.
Learn more about Magnesium PCAWe don't have a description for Manganese PCA yet.
Parfum 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 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 WaterZinc PCA is a clever two-in-one molecule: the zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA).
Think of it as two useful things bonded together; the PCA half is one of your skin's own natural moisturizing factors (NMF) so it helps hold water in the upper layers. On the other hand, the zinc half does the heavy lifting on oil and bacteria.
The zinc part slows down an enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, the hormone that tells your oil glands to pump out more sebum. Less of that signal means less oil. It also gently fights acne-causing bacteria and soothes redness/irritation.
This is why Zinc PCA often shows up in products for oily, breakout-prone skin and greasy scalps.
One lab study also hinted it might have a small anti-aging perk because it seemed to protect collagen from UVA damage and even helped the skin make a bit more of it. That last bit is still early research done in a dish and not real skin, so take it as a nice bonus rather than a promise for now.
As for scar healing, the picture is more "maybe" than a firm yes. Zinc itself plays a real role in wound repair because it is a cofactor for the enzymes involved in collagen building, calming inflammation, and helping new skin cells cover a wound. Lower zinc levels are also linked to slower healing.
Most of the scar healing research is on zinc oxide or oral zinc rather than zinc PCA specifically, with a focus on healing fresh wounds instead of scars that are already there.
Direct evidence that zinc PCA improves the look of established scars is still limited at this time. Though it would be fair to say zinc PCA supports the general skin-repair environment thanks to its zinc content .
This ingredient is water-soluble and plays nicely with other actives like niacinamide and salicylic acid. It works best at mildly acidic formulas (~4-6 pH) and is effective at low levels. Around 0.1% is enough to be active and finished products commonly use it anywhere up to 4%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-drama multitasker that suits oily and acne-prone skin.
Learn more about Zinc PCA
