What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantPEG-6
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantPEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialErythritol
HumectantPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cocoyl Glutamate
Citric Acid
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingSapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingMagnesium Chloride
Oenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientCalcium Chloride
AstringentSerine
MaskingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantZingiber Aromaticus Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCitrus Junos Seed Extract
AntioxidantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Diglycerin, PEG-6, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Alcohol, Erythritol, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Potassium Cocoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Linalool, Sapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citronellol, Geraniol, Magnesium Chloride, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Calcium Chloride, Serine, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Zingiber Aromaticus Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Citrus Junos Seed Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningTartaric Acid
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-20 Glyceryl Laurate
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
AntioxidantLinoleic Acid
CleansingAcetyl Cysteine
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Carbonate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingCI 75810
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Polysorbate 20, Benzyl Alcohol, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Tartaric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Xanthan Gum, PEG-20 Glyceryl Laurate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hydroxide, Retinyl Palmitate, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Linoleic Acid, Acetyl Cysteine, Phenoxyethanol, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, CI 75810, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Parfum
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.
Tocopherol 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 Water