What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Betaine
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Carbomer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Betaine, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG-90
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-7
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingRose Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Hordeum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, PEG-90, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyquaternium-7, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Rose Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Hordeum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, Citronellol, Geraniol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium 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 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
