What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolyamide-5
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantUrea
BufferingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Sweet Almond Protein
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingTromethamine
BufferingDimethiconol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantOryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
BufferingVernonia Appendiculata Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientParfum
MaskingPotassium Gluconate
Skin ProtectingMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningManganese Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Silicate
AbsorbentPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Salicylate
PreservativeMethylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Cyclopentasiloxane, Polyamide-5, Squalane, Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Urea, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sweet Almond Protein, Glycine, Tromethamine, Dimethiconol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium PCA, Tocopherol, Oryza Sativa Starch, Panthenol, Pyridoxine Hcl, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lactate, Vernonia Appendiculata Leaf Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Parfum, Potassium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Manganese Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Magnesium Silicate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Salicylate, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Sorbate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 77891, CI 14700, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSucrose Palmitate
EmollientGlucose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Octadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantPotassium Chloride
Glyceryl Linoleate
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCalcium Chloride
AstringentAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSodium Acetate
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningArginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Citric Acid
BufferingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningTryptophan
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSerine
MaskingCystine
MaskingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Asparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantOrnithine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantNicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Coenzyme A
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Glucuronate
HumectantThiamine Diphosphate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Acetate
Skin ConditioningInositol
HumectantNiacin
SmoothingNiacinamide
SmoothingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCalcium Pantothenate
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Tocopheryl Phosphate
AntioxidantThiamine Hcl
MaskingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Sucrose Palmitate, Glucose, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Octadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Potassium Chloride, Glyceryl Linoleate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Calcium Chloride, Adenosine, Magnesium Sulfate, Glutamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Acetate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lysine Hcl, Arginine Hcl, Alanine, Histidine Hcl, Valine, Leucine, Threonine, Citric Acid, Isoleucine, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Glycine, Polysorbate 80, Potassium Sorbate, Serine, Cystine, Cyanocobalamin, Glutathione, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Ornithine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Proline, Methionine, Taurine, Hydroxyproline, Glucosamine Hcl, Coenzyme A, Tocopherol, Sodium Glucuronate, Thiamine Diphosphate, Retinyl Acetate, Inositol, Niacin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hcl, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate, Thiamine Hcl, Folic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine is the smallest amino acid and a key building block of collagen. It's part if your skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
A study from 2022 found that an amino acid complex featuring taurine, arginine, and glycine significantly reduced skin irritation, improved redness, and accelerated the skin repair process.
Parfum 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePyridoxine hydrochloride, also known as vitamin B6, has skin conditioning properties. According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is an effective anti-dandruff treatment as it reduces sebum levels and oily spots.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateSodium 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 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