What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Glycereth-26
HumectantParfum
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingWater, Polyquaternium-10, Glycereth-26, Parfum, Glycerin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Allantoin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Chloride
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSd Alcohol 40-B
AstringentPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Sd Alcohol 40-B, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Parfum, Panthenol, Menthyl Lactate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Allantoin, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AllantoinGlycerin (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.
Water. 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