What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo
Skin ConditioningAlumina
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Benzoic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCinnamal
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Cucurbita Pepo, Alumina, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Lactate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, BHT, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Cinnamal, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientRibes Nigrum Seed Oil
EmollientCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingVaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Lactate
BufferingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPassiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Tangerina Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil
AstringentAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Bisulfite
AntioxidantCitral
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Polysorbate 60, Lecithin, Lactic Acid, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Maltodextrin, Sodium Lactate, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Parfum, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil, Alcohol Denat., Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Bisulfite, Citral, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilParfum 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateWater. 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