What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingPEG-8 Stearate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeStearic Acid
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientParfum
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantLinalool
PerfumingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
PerfumingMyristic Acid
CleansingSpiraea Ulmaria Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientBuddleja Davidii Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningEryngium Maritimum Extract
TonicCitric Acid
BufferingLeontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Glycine Soja Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, PEG-8 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phenoxyethanol, Stearic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Parfum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Linalool, Adenosine, Citronellol, Myristic Acid, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Eryngium Maritimum Extract, Citric Acid, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLeontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil, Polysorbate 20, Diheptyl Succinate, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Caffeine, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Linalool, Citronellol, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Limonene, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineBenzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolDimethicone 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 GlycerinLimonene 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 LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil is from the seed of the Babassu palm plant. This plant is native to Brazil.
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil contains many fatty acids with the most being lauric acid.
Like other plant oils, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil is hydrating and can help soften skin.
It is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off damage from free-radical molecules.
One study found this oil might contain anti-inflammatory properties, but more research is needed.
Learn more about Orbignya Oleifera Seed OilParfum 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.
Sodium 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum