What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventCetyl Esters
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientAcacia Decurrens Flower Cera
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSalicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMannose
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Lactic Acid
BufferingLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningAcetic Acid
BufferingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Propanediol, Cetyl Esters, Jojoba Esters, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Behenyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Ceramide NP, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Adenosine, Mannose, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lactic Acid, Lactobacillus, Acetic Acid, Maltodextrin, Faex Extract, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCocoglycerides
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
EmollientVaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
HumectantC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Distearate
Emulsifying4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGalactoarabinan
Bisabolol
AntioxidantCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingYeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantInositol
HumectantTaurine
BufferingBetaine
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantHexyldecanol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingXylitol
HumectantCaprylic Acid
CleansingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Squalane, Glycerin, Cocoglycerides, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil, Isopentyldiol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Niacinamide, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Polyglyceryl-10 Distearate, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Allantoin, Galactoarabinan, Bisabolol, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hexyldecanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Xylitol, Caprylic Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Limonene, Linalool, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneLimonene 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 LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopherol 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