What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
Emulsifying
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingMenthol
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Capryloyl Glycine, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Menthol, Menthyl Lactate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Gluconate, Mentha Piperita Oil, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Anisate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Cellulose Gum, Xylitylglucoside
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Menthol
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium PCA
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Sodium
Hydroxycapric Acid
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Menthol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium PCA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Allantoin, Glycolic Acid, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Sarcosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Salicylate, Sodium, Hydroxycapric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA
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 GlycerinThis essential oil is steam-distilled from peppermint leaves, also known as peppermint oil. It's mainly used for scent in skincare but also provides that signature "cooling" sensation.
Peppermint oil is a "feels amazing" ingredient until it doesn't.
At higher doses or for those with sensitive skin, methol-type cooling can quickly turn into burning/irritation. It can also trigger irritant dermatitis or even allergic contact dermatitis. In a large patch-test dataset, peppermint oil had a low but positive rate for this.
In cosmetics, Cosmetic Safety Reviews (CIR) concludes that peppermint oil is safe to use when formulated to be non-sensitizing with some restrictions; for instance, pulegone, a naturally occurring component of peppermint oil, should not exceed 1%.
Since peppermint oil contains fragrance allergens such as limonene, linalool, and menthol, it can be sensitizing for those with rosacea, eczema, a broken skin barrier, or just sensitive skin in general.
In Japan, this ingredient is known as Hakka Yu.
Learn more about Mentha Piperita OilMenthol is a compound found in mint plants, such as peppermint. In its pure form, it is a clear crystalline substance.
Menthol is known for its cooling sensation; however, the cooling is actually from your skin being sensitized. Menthol can worsen rosacea. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Menthol also has antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about MentholPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
