What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Styrene/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isobutane
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Potassium Hydroxide, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Styrene/Ma Copolymer, Stearyl Alcohol, Isobutane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Myristyl Alcohol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Xanthan Gum, T-Butyl Alcohol, Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
PPG-3 Myristyl Ether
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Tocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientBHT
Antioxidant
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetrimonium Bromide
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, PPG-3 Myristyl Ether, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C14-22 Alcohols, Tocopheryl Glucoside, BHT, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetrimonium Bromide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Mica, Polysorbate 60, Silica, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 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 HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
