What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBetaine
HumectantMethyl Glycyrrhizate
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventParfum
MaskingIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Phenyl Trimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Betaine, Methyl Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Parfum, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Phytate
Hydrolyzed Algin
Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMaris Aqua
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Hydrolyzed Algin, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Maris Aqua, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Limonene, CI 42090
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolCarbomer 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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 ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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