What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Carpobrotus Edulis Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pantolactone
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Alcohol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Betaine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Carpobrotus Edulis Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer, Sodium PCA, Inositol, Parfum, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Allantoin, Salicylic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Pantolactone, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Aphloia Theiformis Leaf Extract
AstringentPropanediol
Solvent
Tribehenin
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthyl Linoleate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Extract
HumectantLinalool
Perfuming
Alginic Acid
Skin ConditioningSilanetriol
Geraniol
Perfuming
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Acacia Senegal Gum, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Aphloia Theiformis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Tribehenin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Stearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Linoleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Extract, Linalool, Alginic Acid, Silanetriol, Geraniol, Propyl Gallate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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
