What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingSilica
AbrasiveChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Disodium EDTA
Ceteth-20
CleansingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentZinc PCA
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMalpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingLecithin
EmollientSodium PCA
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientPerilla Ocymoides Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Sodium Citrate, Silica, Chlorphenesin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Ceteth-20, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Zinc PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Parfum, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Lecithin, Sodium PCA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Beta-Sitosterol, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, BHT, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 ParfumPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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