What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycereth-7 Triacetate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
PCA
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Glycereth-7 Triacetate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Betaine, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium PCA, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, PCA, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Proline
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 ParfumPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilSodium 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
