What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPotassium Methoxysalicylate
BleachingPetrolatum
EmollientHydrogenated Palm Oil
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientMaltitol
HumectantBeheneth-20
EmulsifyingElaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyvinyl Alcohol
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBHT
AntioxidantRetinol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAlcohol
AntimicrobialCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingTrisodium EDTA
PPG-3 Dipivalate
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCitronellol
PerfumingAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingSanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingLamium Album Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialInositol
HumectantCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Sylvestris Cone Extract
MaskingZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Acetate
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCellulose
AbsorbentCI 75130
Cosmetic ColorantCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glycerin, Betaine, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Potassium Methoxysalicylate, Petrolatum, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Maltitol, Beheneth-20, Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Microcrystalline Wax, Parfum, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Xanthan Gum, BHT, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Alcohol, Caffeine, Potassium Hydroxide, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Trisodium EDTA, PPG-3 Dipivalate, Limonene, Tocopherol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citronellol, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Lamium Album Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Inositol, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Cone Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Retinyl Acetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Cellulose, CI 75130, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Citric Acid, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantTapioca Starch
Aframomum Angustifolium Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Tocopheryl Phosphate
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPullulan
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningYeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Surfactin
CleansingSodium Citrate
BufferingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingTin Oxide
AbrasiveAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Tapioca Starch, Aframomum Angustifolium Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Pullulan, Chlorphenesin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Yeast Ferment Extract, Parfum, CI 77891, Sodium Surfactin, Sodium Citrate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Tin Oxide, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tocopherol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 ParfumTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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 WaterXanthan 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