What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTrisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Soy Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Threonine
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-16
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Water, Trisiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Panthenol, Soy Amino Acids, Wheat Amino Acids, Serine, Threonine, Arginine Hcl, Phenyl Trimethicone, Parfum, Dimethiconol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Polyquaternium-16, Lactic Acid, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Bisabolol
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Disiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-6
Parfum
Masking
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Disodium EDTA-Copper
AstringentVp/Dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate Copolymer
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-16
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Wheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingLinalool
Perfuming
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Citral
Perfuming
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Disiloxane, Gluconolactone, Polyquaternium-6, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Disodium EDTA-Copper, Vp/Dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate Copolymer, Triethanolamine, Phenyl Trimethicone, Lactic Acid, Polyquaternium-16, Sodium Benzoate, Wheat Amino Acids, Limonene, Dimethiconol, Sodium Chloride, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Linalool, Benzophenone-4, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, CI 19140
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Lactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool 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 LinaloolParfum 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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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 ParfumPhenyl Trimethicone is a silicon-based polymer. It is derived from silica.
Phenyl Trimethicone is used as an emollient and prevents products from foaming.
As an emollient, it helps trap moisture in the skin. It is considered an occlusive.
Learn more about Phenyl TrimethiconeWe don't have a description for Polyquaternium-16 yet.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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 WaterWe don't have a description for Wheat Amino Acids yet.
