What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Stearic Acid
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingBoswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientAcanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Niacinamide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Beeswax, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Adenosine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Lecithin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantOctyldodecanol
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PEG-100 Stearate
Isohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates Copolymer
Arginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCetearyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Ethyl Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Trehalose, Polysorbate 60, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Arginine, Carbomer, Parfum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Cetearyl Methicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 EDTAGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate (GFF) is a yeast traditionally used to make the Japanese alcoholic beverage, sake.
GFF has moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
Studies show GFF improves our skin's natural moisturizing factors (NMF). Our NMF consists of many components that naturally moisturize our skin. Having healthy NMF keeps our skin plump, protected, and hydrated.
This ingredient tells our skin to create more filaggrin, an important component for NMF.
Filaggrin gathers all the structural proteins in our outer layer of skin and creates a tight barrier, helping to protect our skin against allergens and bacteria. This also helps prevent moisture loss.
Thanks to its antioxidant properties, GFF also protects our skin against oxidative stress and UV induced inflammation.
One study found GFF helped regulate sebum (oil) production and keratin in participants.
GFF may not be fungal-acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Many components of sake, such as GFF, are studied for their anti-aging benefits today. This is because sake brewers are known to have youthful hands.
Learn more about Galactomyces Ferment FiltrateGlycerin (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 ParfumPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate is created from the diester of stearic acid and the condensation product of methylglucose and Polyglycerin-3.
As an emulsifier, it is used to bind ingredients together. Many ingredients, such as oils and water, separate naturally. Emulsifiers prevent them from separating to ensure even consistency in texture.
One of the manufacturer for this ingredient states it is vegetable-based. It is also claimed to be stable at both high and low temperatures.
This ingredient may not be safe for fungal acne. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose DistearateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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