What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialStearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Lactate
EmollientCocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Salicylic Acid
MaskingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientSodium Isostearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol Isostearate
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzalkonium Chloride
AntimicrobialMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Cetyl Lactate, Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Salicylic Acid, Menthyl Lactate, Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate, Propylene Glycol Isostearate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzalkonium Chloride, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAlanine
MaskingGlaucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Lysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingArginine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMaltose
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingDimethiconol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantFructose
HumectantBetaine
HumectantPCA
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantUrea
BufferingGlucose
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Alanine, Glaucine, Threonine, Lysine Hcl, Serine, Arginine, Proline, Allantoin, Maltose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Dimethiconol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fructose, Betaine, PCA, Sodium PCA, Urea, Glucose, Trehalose, Sodium Lactate, Glutamic Acid, Synthetic Wax, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Chloride, T-Butyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Parfum, CI 42090
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 “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 ParfumChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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