What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOleyl Alcohol
EmollientDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingBenzophenone-9
UV AbsorberHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientDi-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Glycol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRaspberry Ketone
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantOctyldodeceth-20
CleansingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oleyl Alcohol, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Benzophenone-9, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Glycerin, Octyldodeceth-20, Octyldodeceth-16, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal
Water
Skin ConditioningVinegar
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantRubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract
AntioxidantHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLuffa Cylindrica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingAdansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeAminopropyl Dimethicone
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientAmodimethicone
Cetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Vinegar, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Myristyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Steartrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Amodimethicone, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract comes from the root commonly known as carrot (the orange kind we eat!).
This extract contains beta-carotene, a pigment responsible for giving plants the orange color. Beta-carotene is a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants may help reduce the signs of aging.
Beta-carotene is the reason we turn orange if we eat too many carrots.
It should be noted coming into contact with the leaves of wild carrots can cause skin irritation. The sap causes phytophotodermatitis, or sensitivity exposed to sunlight.
This ingredient is created using the edible parts of the carrot.
Learn more about Daucus Carota Sativa Root ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Collagen is Collagen (usually sourced from fish, bovine, or porcine byproducts) that's been broken down into smaller peptides. This makes it water-soluble and easy to blend into formulations.
In a formula, it works mainly as a skin-conditioning and moisturizing agent.
The small peptides and amino acids (including Natural Moisturizing Factor components like Hydroxyproline, Serine, and Aspartic Acid) help the surface of the skin hold onto water, feel softer, and look temporarily plumper.
This ingredient also has mild film-forming and antioxidant properties with research showing the antioxidant effect is stronger the lower the molecular weight of the peptides.
It's worth being realistic here:
Topically applied Hydrolyzed Collagen conditions the upper layers of skin rather than rebuilding the structural collagen deep in your dermis (the wrinkle-and-firmness benefits people associate with Collagen mostly come from oral supplements in studies, not topicals).
However, recent lab and skin-model work on Hydrolyzed Fish Collagen has shown promising effects on cell viability and wound healing when used as an active.
Typical concentrations range from 0.2-2%, but the percentage can go much higher in rinse-off or hair products (sometimes even above 50%).
Clinical studies on this ingredient showed no irritation, sensitization, or phototoxicity.
If you are looking for vegan collagen, it usually goes by a different INCI name like hydrolyzed soy protein. Vegan collagen is derived from yeast, bacteria, or plant sources.
The results are varied.
A study from 2021 found hydrolyzed collagen increased elasticity and improved wrinkles in 1,125 participants between age 20 and 70. Another study found increased skin thickness in participants between the ages of 45 to 59.
However, It is difficult to prove that oral collagen will end up working on your skin. Many of the studies using hydrolyzed collagen also add several vitamins and nutrients into the test mixture as well.
Further studies are needed at this time.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed CollagenLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidParfum 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 ParfumWe don't have a description for Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine yet.
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