What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentCollagen
MoisturisingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPEG-75
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingPunica Granatum Extract, Collagen, Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trehalose, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-75, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Beta-Carotene, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Adenosine, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, CI 77491, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientCyclomethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientParfum
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingSaussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Hexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventGeraniol
PerfumingArctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Octyldodecanol, Cyclomethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Parfum, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Trideceth-6, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Salicylate, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Disodium EDTA, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Geraniol, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, CI 15985, CI 14700
Reviews
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
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 AlcoholDisodium 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 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 ParfumWater. 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