What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingPEG-10 Dimethicone Crosspolymer
StabilisingPvp
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantAcetyl Heptapeptide-4
HumectantPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning1,5-Pentanediol
SolventSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingSoluble Collagen
HumectantParfum
MaskingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingWater, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, C12-14 Pareth-12, PEG-10 Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Pvp, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Fructose, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Butylene Glycol, Trehalose, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Phosphatidylcholine, Phytosterols, Ceramide NP, Arginine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, 1,5-Pentanediol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Chloride, Soluble Collagen, Parfum, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Oleate, PPG-5-Ceteth-20
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientVegetable Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPalmitic Acid
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyacrylate-13
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingPolyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Myristic Acid
CleansingParfum
MaskingGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Ceramide AP, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Vegetable Oil, Glycerin, Polysorbate 60, Caffeine, Dimethicone, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, PEG-100 Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylate-13, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Arginine, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Myristic Acid, Parfum
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
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineThis ingredient is a postbiotic made by fermenting Bifidobacterium (a probiotic bacteria) and then filtering out the liquid portion. It has skin conditioning properties.
Much of the evidence for this ingredient is borrowed from the lysate form of this ingredient, which has a much stronger research base.
This ingredient is generally considered fungal acne (Malassezia) safe; Bifidobacterium is a bacterium, not a yeast or fungus.
The fungal acne concern with fermented ingredients mainly applies to yeast-derived ferments like Saccharomyces and Galactomyces, because those are in the same kingdom as Malassezia and could theoretically contain residual compounds that feed it.
Bifida is a completely different organism, so on its own it doesn't provide a food source for the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about Bifida Ferment FiltrateButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDimethicone 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneParfum 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 Parfum