What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOleyl Erucate
EmollientBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCetearyl Olivate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
PerfumingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingCetyl Palmitate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSorbitan Palmitate
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Oleyl Erucate, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Tocopherol, Sclerotium Gum, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Cetyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sorbitan Palmitate, Salicylic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Citral, Citronellol, Limonene, Eugenol, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLactic Acid
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientGlycolic Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Parfum
MaskingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantBenzaldehyde
MaskingBenzoic Acid
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lactic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polyglutamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Synthetic Beeswax, Panthenol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Diisostearyl Malate, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mandelic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Se, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phytate, Parfum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Benzaldehyde, Benzoic Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene 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 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 HydroxideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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