What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine
MaskingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantBacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Dimethicone
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveIsoceteth-10
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Bacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Cyanocobalamin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetyl Dimethicone, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Silica, Isoceteth-10, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientOlive Oil Decyl Esters
Coconut Alkanes
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSqualene
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMyristyl Malate Phosphonic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Stearate
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Methylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
SolventHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopherol
AntioxidantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingAlcohol
AntimicrobialSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Coconut Alkanes, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Squalene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Myristyl Malate Phosphonic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Parfum, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Oleate, Alcohol, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinParfum 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 ParfumSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium 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