What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientCetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Crithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
PEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Salicylate
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Gluconolactone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Salicylate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSalicylic Acid
MaskingSarcosine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDenatonium Benzoate
MaskingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPEG-8 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Gluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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