What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cellulose
AbsorbentC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dimethicone, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cellulose, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Retinol, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Polyacrylamide, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, BHT, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingArginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Seyal Gum Extract
HumectantCyclodextrin
AbsorbentLecithin
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Glycine Soja Oil, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Glycerin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Sclerotium Gum, Stearyl Alcohol, Retinyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Retinol, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Cyclodextrin, Lecithin, Citric Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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.
Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolSorbic Acid is a preservative. It is the most commonly used food preservative in the world.
Sorbic Acid is a natural antibiotic and highly effective at preventing the growth of fungus. It is less effective against bacteria.
Potassium Sorbate, another commonly-used preservative, is the potassium salt of Sorbic Acid.
Sorbic Acid may worsen eczema. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
Learn more about Sorbic AcidWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
