What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingSecale Cereale Seed Extract
AbrasiveCalcium Chloride
AstringentDimethiconol
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningAlgin
MaskingCellulose Acetate Butyrate
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAgar
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingPolyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Butylene Glycol
HumectantMethylparaben
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Dimethicone, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Squalane, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Calcium Chloride, Dimethiconol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Algin, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Agar, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, CI 17200, CI 42090, Linalool, Citronellol, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Silica, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Collagen
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
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 DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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.
Water. 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