What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-10
Capryloyl/Caproyl Anhydro Methyl Glucamide
SolventGlycerin
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningRice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Proline
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitral
PerfumingWater, Polysorbate 20, Polyquaternium-10, Capryloyl/Caproyl Anhydro Methyl Glucamide, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Sodium Chloride, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Rice Amino Acids, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Proline, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantCoconut Oil Glycereth-8 Esters
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-67
Glyceryl Oleate
EmollientDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientCoco-Glucoside
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Coconut Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauric Acid, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Parfum, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Polyquaternium-67, Glyceryl Oleate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Coco-Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Chlorphenesin, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You may know this ingredient as argan oil. It has emollient and skin conditioning properties that help soften skin and reinforce the lipid barrier.
The fatty acid profile of argan oil is roughly 45-55% oleic acid, 28-36% linoleic acid, 10-15% palmitic acid, and 5-7% stearic acid. It also contains vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and polyphenols like ferulic acid.
Two clinical studies in postmenopausal women found that applying argan oil for 60 days significantly improved skin elasticity and moisturization (reduced transepidermal water loss and increased epidermal water content).
Since it is high in oleic and linoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Both of these fall in the C11-C24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Argania Spinosa Kernel OilGlycerin (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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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