What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSqualane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Glucoside
HumectantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
MaskingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Octyldodecanol
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCaulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingCentella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xylitol, Propanediol, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Betaine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Glucoside, Arginine, Carbomer, Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xylitylglucoside, Adenosine, Menthyl Lactate, Anhydroxylitol, Disodium EDTA, Octyldodecanol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Glucose, Caprylyl Glycol, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingUrea
BufferingDi-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningAnastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialPhaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantGlucose
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRumex Crispus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBetula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingTri-C14-15 Alkyl Citrate
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingParfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Urea, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Diisostearyl Malate, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Adenosine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Ceramide NP, Panthenol, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Ferulic Acid, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Glucose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rumex Crispus Root Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Sodium Chloride, Tri-C14-15 Alkyl Citrate, Propylene Carbonate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool
Reviews
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 AdenosineButylene 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 GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPDisodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Glucoside is made from glycerol and glucose.
It is a humectant. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture to it from the air.
Some foods that contain glyceryl glucoside include sake, miso, and wines.
Learn more about Glyceryl GlucosideHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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