What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantDimethicone
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Styrene/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsobutane
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingAcrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, 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 Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventEthoxydiglycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantAlgin
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingEvodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPullulan
Serine
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantUrea
BufferingXylitol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Propanediol, Ethoxydiglycol, Pentylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Xylitylglucoside, Algin, Disodium Phosphate, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Potassium Phosphate, Pullulan, Serine, Trehalose, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Urea, Xylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Citrate, Parfum
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 Water