What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialOctocrylene
UV AbsorberStearic Acid
CleansingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPolyester-7
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentTriethanolamine
BufferingParfum
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterDisodium EDTA
Niacinamide
SmoothingSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPEG-90m
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientLavandula Stoechas Extract
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSea Salt
AbrasiveSilica
AbrasiveWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Benzophenone-3, Alcohol Denat., Octocrylene, Stearic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Polyester-7, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Triethanolamine, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Snail Secretion Filtrate, PEG-90m, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Bisabolol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Cholesterol, Lavandula Stoechas Extract, Ceramide NP, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Carrageenan, Astaxanthin, Tocopherol, Sea Salt, Silica
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientLaureth-3
EmulsifyingCeteareth-20
CleansingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantMethylparaben
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, Stearic Acid, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, Laureth-3, Ceteareth-20, Allantoin, Arginine, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Parfum, Panthenol, Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Alcohol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol 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