What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientSteartrimonium Bromide
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientAminopropyl Dimethicone
Behentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientAmodimethicone
Glycerin
HumectantCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingC12-14 Sec-Pareth-7
EmulsifyingAlcohol
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientEthyl Ester Of Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingBetaine
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantPEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCanola Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningLeptospermum Petersonii Oil
MaskingAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSaururus Chinensis Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcorus Gramineus Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Thunbergii Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningChitosan
Hydrolyzed Chitosan
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Steartrimonium Bromide, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Amodimethicone, Glycerin, Cocamide Mea, C12-14 Sec-Pareth-7, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ethyl Ester Of Hydrolyzed Silk, Lactic Acid, Betaine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Silk, PEG-14m, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Canola Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Leptospermum Petersonii Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Acorus Gramineus Root/Stem Extract, Pinus Thunbergii Leaf Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Chitosan, Hydrolyzed Chitosan, Trehalose, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxycitronellal, Coumarin, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientHydrolyzed Collagen Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soybean Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientKeratin
Skin ConditioningHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasiveSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer-2
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Bicarbonate
AbrasiveHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
CleansingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPlatinum
AntimicrobialAminopropyl Dimethicone
Diethyl Sebacate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Collagen Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Hydrolyzed Soybean Extract, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Keratin, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Gamma-Docosalactone, Kaolin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer-2, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sphingolipids, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Bicarbonate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Stearic Acid, Cellulose Gum, Platinum, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Diethyl Sebacate, Pentylene Glycol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aminopropyl Dimethicone is a type of silicone.
This ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed collagen has a misleading name because it is actually a mixture of various proteins/peptides. This ingredient has skin hydrating properties.
Collagen is the most abundant type of structural protein found in your body. In your skin, it is responsible for keeping it firm and youthful.
Hydrolyzed Collagen is created by breaking up proteins into smaller peptide bonds. These peptides act as humectants and emollients.
Humectants are great at holding onto water, keeping skin hydrated. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
There is ongoing debate about whether hydrolyzed collagen works because it increases skin hydration. Skin hydration is also linked to elasticity and the appearance of wrinkles.
Collagen or peptide ingredients can be used in the morning or night. They will not increase sun sensitivity, but you should always wear sunscreen during the day.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is a great hair conditioner as well.
This ingredient can be extracted from different sources, including:
Vegan collagen is derived from yeast, bacteria, or plant sources. Vegan collagen would go by a different INCI name, such as hydrolyzed soy protein.
The results are varied.
A study from 2021 found hydrolyzed collagen increased elasticity and improved wrinkles in 1,125 participants between age 20 and 70. Another study found increased skin thickness in participants between the ages of 45 to 59.
However, It is difficult to prove that oral collagen will end up working on your skin. Many of the studies using hydrolyzed collagen also add several vitamins and nutrients into the test mixture as well.
Further studies are needed at this time.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed CollagenParfum 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 ParfumSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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