What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Linalool
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingUrea
BufferingGlucosamine Hcl
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Parfum, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Isopropyl Myristate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzophenone-4, Potassium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Limonene, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Urea, Glucosamine Hcl, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientParfum
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientSqualane
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDimethiconol
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialTetrasodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitral
PerfumingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningEthylparaben
PreservativeO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCinnamal
PerfumingSodium Benzoate
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Parfum, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Dimethiconol, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Sorbitan Oleate, Chlorphenesin, Tetrasodium EDTA, BHT, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citral, Polyquaternium-51, Ethylparaben, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Potassium Sorbate, Cinnamal, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceCarbomer 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 CarbomerCitral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
The term '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.
Learn more about CitralDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneParfum 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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.
Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
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