What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctocrylene
UV AbsorberPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterOcimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantVinyldimethicone
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Cetearyl Olivate
Dimethyl Capramide
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Dibutyl Adipate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octocrylene, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Alcohol Denat., Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vinyldimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Pentylene Glycol, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Dimethyl Capramide, Tromethamine, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sorbitan Olivate, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Coco-Glucoside, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, C20-22 Alcohols, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
Homosalate 5.5%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 4%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningJasminum Sambac Leaf Cell Extract
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantDibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingHomosalate 5.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 4%, Water, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Caprylyl Methicone, Propanediol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Jasminum Sambac Leaf Cell Extract, Glycerin, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Carbomer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Carbomer 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidOctocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocryleneParfum 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 ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol 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 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