What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPolymethyl Methacrylate
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Alcohol
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantBenzoic Acid
MaskingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCitral
PerfumingCitronellyl Methylcrotonate
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Hydrochloric Acid
BufferingKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantMethylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Ascorbate
AntioxidantSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cholate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTriethyl Citrate
MaskingTrisodium Ascorbyl Palmitate Phosphate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Phosphatidylcholine, Polymethyl Methacrylate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Alcohol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Benzoic Acid, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, CI 15985, Citral, Citronellyl Methylcrotonate, Limonene, Disodium EDTA, Hydrochloric Acid, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Linalool, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Sorbate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Ascorbate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cholate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Soluble Proteoglycan, Sorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethyl Citrate, Trisodium Ascorbyl Palmitate Phosphate, Xanthan Gum
Dimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycine Max Polypeptide
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDimethicone, Glycerin, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Amodimethicone, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Max Polypeptide, Tocopherol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, T-Butyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol
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 EDTAGlycerin (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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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 HydroxideXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum