What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyethylene
AbrasivePanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningSodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate
EmulsifyingCeratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
MaskingPolyacrylamide
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLaureth-4
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
EmollientParfum
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyethylene, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract, Polyacrylamide, Titanium Dioxide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Laureth-4, Laureth-7, Dimethiconol, Parfum, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Mica
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventHexyldecyl Myristoyl Methylaminopropionate
EmollientIsostearyl Neopentanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Calcium Chloride
AstringentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningManganese Sulfate
Skin ConditioningZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantLecithin
EmollientNasturtium Officinale Extract
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantLepidium Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Hexyldecyl Myristoyl Methylaminopropionate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Methyl Trimethicone, Sea Water, Saccharide Isomerate, Dimethicone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Tromethamine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, T-Butyl Alcohol, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Lecithin, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Tocopherol, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside
Reviews
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
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 AcidDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 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.
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