What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTromethamine
BufferingPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventParfum
MaskingPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantNiacin
SmoothingCarnitine Hcl
HumectantPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Allantoin, Panthenol, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Tromethamine, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Parfum, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Retinyl Palmitate, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Niacin, Carnitine Hcl, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingBetaine Salicylate
AntimicrobialCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingArginine
MaskingGlycolic Acid
BufferingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantBenzyl Glycol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRaspberry Ketone
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-60
HumectantHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Betaine Salicylate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Arginine, Glycolic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Allantoin, Betaine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, PEG-60, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 ParfumSorbitan Sesquioleate is derived from sorbitol and oleic acid. It is an emulsifier and prevents ingredients from separating.
Specifically, this ingredient is a water-in-oil emulsifier, meaning it helps water dissolve into oil.
Some studies suggest this ingredient may cause irritation in some people. If you are unsure, it is best to patch test.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan SesquioleateWater. 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