What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventIsostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Stearate
Emollient
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, C15-19 Alkane, Isostearyl Isostearate, Squalane, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Stearate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Cetyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Parfum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Bacillus Ferment
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingEpigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
BHA
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCitronellol
Perfuming
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentDiglycerin
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEugenol
Perfuming
Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingInulin
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Poloxamer 235
EmulsifyingPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Resveratrol Dimethyl Ether
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cholate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocophersolan
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingVitis Vinifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Phosphatidylcholine, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Alcohol, BHA, BHT, Butylene Glycol, CI 42090, CI 17200, Citronellol, Cyclodextrin, Diglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Eugenol, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Inulin, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Poloxamer 235, Poloxamer 338, Polysorbate 20, Quercetin, Resveratrol Dimethyl Ether, Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cholate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Tocophersolan, Triethanolamine, Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Vine Extract, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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 ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 Water
