What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Amp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium Polyaspartate
HumectantLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
Antioxidant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Amp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Saccharomyces Ferment, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Sorbitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caffeine, Trehalose, Sodium Polyaspartate, Lauroyl Lysine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Tocopherol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Pvp, Parfum, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citric Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientPvp
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Dimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate
Cleansing
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-5 Lactate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Cleansing
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingPropanediol
Solvent
Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentParfum
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Poloxamer 407
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Pvp, Glycerin, Xylitol, Dimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-5 Lactate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Propanediol, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Parfum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Maltodextrin, Poloxamer 407, Phenoxyethanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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.
Pvp is a water-soluble synthetic polymer and common hairstyling ingredient. It is a film-forming ingredient and used to "hold" specific shapes of hair.
In cosmetics, PVP helps products like sunscreens and color cosmetics last longer and wear more evenly.
It is less effective in high-humidity. It tends to draw moisture, but this moisture dismantles the structure and "hold".
PVP is generally well tolerated on skin and toxicity studies are negative for dermal irritation.
Learn more about PvpSodium 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 HydroxideTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
