What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientAminopropyl Dimethicone
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativePolysilicone-13
Camellia Seed Oil
Lactic Acid
BufferingLysine Lauroyl Glutamate
CleansingSqualane
EmollientRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPEG-2 Laurate
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
MaskingAmodimethicone
PPG-2-Deceth-12
EmulsifyingMethylserine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Cetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isopentyldiol, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Steartrimonium Chloride, Polysilicone-13, Camellia Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Lysine Lauroyl Glutamate, Squalane, Royal Jelly Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Isopropyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Isopropyl Myristate, PEG-2 Laurate, Salicylic Acid, Amodimethicone, PPG-2-Deceth-12, Methylserine, Disodium EDTA, Cetrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 17200, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingLaureth-6 Carboxylic Acid
CleansingParfum
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingPolyquaternium-10
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingTea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPPG-7
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Salicylate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Linalool
PerfumingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
EmulsifyingPPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide
EmulsifyingGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Laureth-6 Carboxylic Acid, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-10, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dimethiconol, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Sodium Benzoate, PPG-7, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Salicylate, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Tocopherol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Alcohol Denat., PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Glycolipids
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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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