What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Triethanolamine
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Adansonia Digitata Pulp Extract
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Hydrolyzed Swiftlet Nest
Skin ConditioningKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Lecithin
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Codium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingCichorium Intybus Leaf Extract
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSoy Protein Phthalate
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Gentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltose
MaskingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Lactate, Chlorphenesin, Triethanolamine, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Adansonia Digitata Pulp Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Hydrolyzed Swiftlet Nest, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Cichorium Intybus Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Magnesium Gluconate, Soy Protein Phthalate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Maltose, Polysorbate 80, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Soluble Collagen, Carbomer, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Glycosphingolipids, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMilk Extract
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract
Emollient
Saccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Callus Culture Extract
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, PEG-40 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Milk Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Callus Culture Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 “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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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
