What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingUbiquinone
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantDimethicone
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Dihydroxyacetone, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ubiquinone, Tocopherol, Dimethicone, Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlycol Palmitate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Coconut Oil
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides
EmollientParfum
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDimethiconol
EmollientDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantInositol
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantEichhornia Crassipes Extract
Skin ConditioningEthyl Ferulate
AntioxidantFagraea Berteroana Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingWater, Dimethicone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Glycol Palmitate, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Arachidyl Alcohol, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Parfum, Tocopherol, Behenyl Alcohol, Capryloyl Glycine, Carbomer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Arachidyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Dimethiconol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Mica, Inositol, Tetrasodium EDTA, CI 77891, Eichhornia Crassipes Extract, Ethyl Ferulate, Fagraea Berteroana Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Coumarin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolDimethicone 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 DimethiconeGeraniol 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 GeraniolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool 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 ParfumTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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