What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium Crosspolymer-3
Lactic Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Dimethiconol
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicSilk Amino Acids
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyquaternium Crosspolymer-3, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Biotin, Silk Amino Acids, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Coumarin, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopentyldiol
HumectantStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientParfum
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Linalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
Perfuming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Extract
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMannitol
HumectantArginine
MaskingSerine
MaskingSucrose
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHexyl Laurate
EmollientSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPCA
HumectantCitrulline
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentGlycogen
HumectantHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingThreonine
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate
EmollientWater, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Myristyl Alcohol, Isopentyldiol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glyceryl Oleate, Parfum, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Limonene, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Geraniol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Mannitol, Arginine, Serine, Sucrose, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hexyl Laurate, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, PCA, Citrulline, Dextrin, Glycogen, Histidine Hcl, Alanine, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Threonine, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Glutamic Acid, Tocopherol, Lysine Hcl, Acer Saccharum Extract, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate
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.
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 preservatives
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 ParfumWe don't have a description for Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine yet.
Water. 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