What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientErgothioneine
AntioxidantSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantTranexamic Acid
AstringentAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantGeranium Robertianum Extract
AstringentPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentThymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningCalcium Chloride
AstringentAlpinia Katsumadai Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentGlucose
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveParfum
MaskingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingAlgin
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diisostearyl Malate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ergothioneine, Sodium Polyglutamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Alpha-Arbutin, Tranexamic Acid, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Geranium Robertianum Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Calcium Chloride, Alpinia Katsumadai Seed Extract, Glutathione, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Glucose, Silica, Parfum, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Citrate, Algin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Trehalose
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningActinidia Polygama Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantDimethicone
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Powder
AbrasiveSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Agar
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingGellan Gum
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingSqualane
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14720
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Trisiloxane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Trehalose, Cyclopentasiloxane, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Allantoin, Adenosine, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Agar, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Gellan Gum, Trideceth-9, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Squalane, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 19140, CI 14720
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 AllantoinAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolDimethicone 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 DimethiconeThis ingredient is a silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.
Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.
Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerDisodium 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.
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