What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingAmodimethicone
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientClimbazole
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-10
CleansingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingButylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingHydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentArginine
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientSodium Phosphate
BufferingRosa Damascena Flower Extract
MaskingPropanediol
SolventPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantOleic Acid
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingLinoleic Acid
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingXylitylglucoside
HumectantPunica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAnhydroxylitol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantXylitol
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Caffeine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Parfum, Amodimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Climbazole, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trideceth-10, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Disodium Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Dextrin, Arginine, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Phosphate, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Propanediol, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Oleic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Cholesterol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Xylitol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCeteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeDimethicone
EmollientAmodimethicone
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeAlcohol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingDimethiconol
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Cetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrated Silica
AbrasiveDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSodium Phosphate
BufferingHoney Extract
HumectantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Ceteartrimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Amodimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Dimethiconol, Benzyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrated Silica, Disodium Phosphate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Phosphate, Honey Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This water-soluble silicone is used for its hydrating and softening properties. It is used to add a silky feel to skincare products and has great benefits for haircare.
In haircare, this ingredient:
- Adds shine
- Protects color
- Offers thermal protection
- Boosts hair strength
- Does not build up as easily
Butylene 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 DimethiconeDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium 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 EDTADisodium Phosphate is a water-soluble powder used as a pH adjuster and mild chelating agent. It basically holds a specific pH and binds stray metal ions so your product stays stable.
This ingredient is usually used at very low levels and concentrations range from 0.000054% - 2.9%. The CIR Expert Panel states this ingredient to be non-irritating at current use levels.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidParfum 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 Phosphate is is behind-the-scenes formulation helper. Its main job is buffering, or locking in the product's pH.
This helps ensure the formula stays at its intended acidity through manufacturing, shipping, and sitting on your shelf. Many active ingredients like vitamin C or retinoids are pH sensitive so maintaining their happy pH range matters.
It is synthetic and reported use concentrations are very low (up to 0.086% in face powders).
Learn more about Sodium PhosphateWater. 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