What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolycitronellol T-Butyl Ether
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Decaoleate
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantFructose
HumectantStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingBehenamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingVerbascum Thapsus Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyporus Umbellatus Extract
Skin ProtectingPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningLauryl/Myristyl Polyricinoleate
EmollientPolyquaternium-11
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBis-(Isostearoyl/Oleoyl Isopropyl) Dimonium Methosulfate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSteareth-20
CleansingCeteth-20
CleansingPEG-75 Stearate
SurfactantParfum
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polycitronellol T-Butyl Ether, Polyglyceryl-10 Decaoleate, Isopentyldiol, Glycerin, C10-18 Triglycerides, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fructose, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Verbascum Thapsus Extract, Polyporus Umbellatus Extract, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Lauryl/Myristyl Polyricinoleate, Polyquaternium-11, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cetyl Alcohol, Bis-(Isostearoyl/Oleoyl Isopropyl) Dimonium Methosulfate, Glyceryl Stearate, Steareth-20, Ceteth-20, PEG-75 Stearate, Parfum, Lactic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetrimonium Bromide
AntimicrobialLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientQuaternium-80
Squalane
EmollientRosa Canina Seed Extract
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantBis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingJojoba Esters
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenylalanine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingPCA
HumectantPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone
Propylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventSodium Nitrate
SoothingTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingCitral
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Bromide, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Quaternium-80, Squalane, Rosa Canina Seed Extract, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Arginine, Jojoba Esters, Panthenol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Histidine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenylalanine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Phosphatidylcholine, Citric Acid, Sodium Lactate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Bis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium Nitrate, Tocopherol, Parfum, Citral, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseJojoba Esters is a wax created from Jojoba oil. It is an emollient and film-forming ingredient. In bead form, it is an exfoliator.
This ingredient has high oxidative stability, meaning it doesn't break down when exposed to oxygen.
Its similarity to our skin's natural oils makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe our skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, keeping skin hydrated.
It is created using either the hydrogenation or transesterification processes on jojoba oil.
Learn more about Jojoba EstersLimonene is the compound that gives citrus peel its smell.
In skincare, it shows up as a standalone fragrance ingredient or as a natural compound of citrus and other essential oils.
You'll typically see this ingredient used in very small amounts; anything above 0.001% in a leave-on product or 0.01% in a rinse-off has to be named on the label in the EU. The citrus oils that carry it sit around 0.5-1% in a finished formula.
Fresh limonene is a weak allergen; the real issue is that it slowly reacts with air and then breaks down from oxidation to create hydroperoxides (which are strong sensitizers). This is why suppliers are required to keep the peroxide value below 20 mmol.
Positive reactions in people being investigated for eczema vary:
It's worth skipping if you have a known fragrance allergy or a compromised barrier, but the risk is low for most people.
Older or long-opened products are also more likely to bother you than fresh ones due to oxidation.
Learn more about LimoneneParfum 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