What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientSodium PCA
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCeteareth-20
CleansingHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Parfum
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Linoleate
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingTriethylene Glycol
MaskingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientGlyceryl Palmitate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthyl Hexanediol
SolventGlyceryl Linolenate
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Sodium PCA, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cetyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Parfum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Linoleate, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Triethylene Glycol, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethyl Hexanediol, Glyceryl Linolenate, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Silica, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHordeum Distichon Extract
Skin ProtectingArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingMethylsilanol Hydroxyproline Aspartate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Flour
Skin ConditioningGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDimethicone
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantPPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
EmollientIsocetyl Stearate
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hordeum Distichon Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Methylsilanol Hydroxyproline Aspartate, Hydrolyzed Soy Flour, Glycolipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium PCA, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Isocetyl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetyl Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Carbomer, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Geraniol, Citronellol, Parfum, CI 17200
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene 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 CarbomerCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAParfum 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCATocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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