What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder
Abrasive
Smithsonite Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPeumus Boldus Leaf Extract
MaskingCannabis Sativa Seed Extract
EmollientSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialTocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Gluconolactone, Propanediol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Smithsonite Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract, Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Anisate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 19140, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Propionate
Skin Conditioning
Oleyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Urea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglucuronic Acid
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Algin
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Swertia Chirata Extract
HumectantLecithin
Emollient
Pullulan
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPEG-75 Stearate
Ceteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPicolinamide
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Isostearyl Hydroxystearate, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C14-22 Alcohols, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Isopropyl Palmitate, Retinol, Retinyl Propionate, Oleyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Serine, Hexyldecanol, Glycine Soja Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Glycerin, Polyglucuronic Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Swertia Chirata Extract, Lecithin, Pullulan, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, PEG-75 Stearate, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Picolinamide, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, CI 19140, CI 14700, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerCI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.
Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.
Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
Learn more about CI 19140Glycerin (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 ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
