What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingAlcohol
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentCarum Carvi Seed Extract
MaskingCamellia Seed Oil
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingTulipa Gesneriana Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCastanea Sativa Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningNatto Gum
Stone Bean Extract
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Elata Root Extract
Skin ProtectingGlucose
HumectantHoney
HumectantPyrus Malus Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBacillus
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Rhizome Extract
AntimicrobialOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Dimethicone, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Cyclodextrin, Carum Carvi Seed Extract, Camellia Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Propanediol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tulipa Gesneriana Flower Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Castanea Sativa Bark Extract, Natto Gum, Stone Bean Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Rehmannia Elata Root Extract, Glucose, Honey, Pyrus Malus Stem Extract, Disodium EDTA, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bacillus, Zingiber Officinale Rhizome Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventParfum
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Parfum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, CI 19140, CI 15985, Tocopherol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, CI 17200, CI 42090, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Glycolipids
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone 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 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 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 ParfumStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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