What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Polymethylsilsesquioxane/Silica Crosspolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment
Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Bacillus
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingSerine
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Calcium Pantothenate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phytantriol
HumectantAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Cholesterol
Emollient
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Inositol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSucrose
Humectant
Algin
Masking
Pullulan
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polysilicone-11
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolyisobutene
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentPEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane/Silica Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isononyl Isononanoate, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment, Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Bacillus, Trehalose, Taurine, Serine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Niacinamide, Phytantriol, Acetyl Glutamine, Urea, Cholesterol, Yeast Amino Acids, Phytosphingosine, Inositol, Betaine, Lecithin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Sucrose, Algin, Pullulan, Maltodextrin, Polysilicone-11, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Decyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Polyisobutene, Silica, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, CI 17200, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Saccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantParfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningCreatine
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Maris Aqua
HumectantWater, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Glycerin, PEG-40 Stearate, Sorbitan Tristearate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Sodium Benzoate, Allantoin, Urea, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Parfum, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Alanine, Glycine, Magnesium Aspartate, Creatine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, Maris Aqua
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 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.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 PropanediolUrea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Urea is actually one of the more well-studied and well-supported ingredients out there if you have eczema.
Clinical trials have shown that urea creams in the 5 - 10% range can:
Higher concentrations (20 -30%) can also help with thickened, scaly patches but is also more likely to sting on active flares.
Skip urea if you have rosacea. The AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) lists it alongside alcohol, menthol, and fragrance as a potential irritant for rosacea-prone skin. Urea's keratolytic and penetration-enhancing properties can trigger stinging, burning, and redness.
As always, your skin is unique, so definitely check in with your dermatologist.
Learn more about UreaWater. 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
