What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
Lauryl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Lauryl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Parfum, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Ceteth-10 Phosphate
CleansingDicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Artemia Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phytic Acid
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Seed Extract
Perfuming
Polygonatum Multiflorum Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingGlycine
Buffering
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Artemia Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Phytic Acid, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Seed Extract, Polygonatum Multiflorum Rhizome/Root Extract, Cyclodextrin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Parfum, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Morus Alba Root Extract, Glycine, Glycine Soja Oil, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Retinol, Tocopherol, Calcium Gluconate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
