What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Menthol
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Butter
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningChlorhexidine Dihydrochloride
Antimicrobial
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Rosmarinic Acid
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Linalool
Perfuming
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
Masking
Mentha Piperita Extract
CleansingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Amodimethicone, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Esters, Isopropyl Alcohol, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Trideceth-6, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Menthol, Simmondsia Chinensis Butter, Limonene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinic Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Benzophenone-4, Linalool, Pentylene Glycol, Wheat Amino Acids, Sodium Chloride, Mentha Piperita Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sr-Spider Polypeptide-1
Skin Protecting
Linalool
Perfuming
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantIngredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.
Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.
Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.
The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.
Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholThis ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
