What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethyl Oleate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Juice Extract
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Ethyl Oleate, Glycerin, Betaine, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Juice Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Gluconolactone, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Glycine Soja Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, T-Butyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Parfum
Propanediol
Solvent
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Carbonate
SolventHydroxypropylcellulose
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Palmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingLimonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidCitral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
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 CitralGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s 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 PropanediolWater. 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
