What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentNylon-12
Dimethicone
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCeratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDimethiconol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCeteareth-6
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Polyethylene
AbrasiveSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Polyacrylamide
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG-100 Stearate
Ammonium Polyacrylate
StabilisingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasiveC13-14 Alkane
SolventBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingMethylparaben
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Isostearate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Nylon-12, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, C12-13 Pareth-3, Laureth-7, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Ceteareth-6, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Polyethylene, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, PEG-100 Stearate, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Tin Oxide, C13-14 Alkane, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMica
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
AbrasiveAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Methylpropanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mica, Silica, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Trisodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, BHT, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone 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 GlycerinMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaParfum 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 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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