What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientRosa Canina Seed Extract
EmollientC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPalmitic Acid
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFusanus Spicatus Wood Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingOrmenis Multicaulis Oil
MaskingRhus Succedanea Fruit Wax
Shorea Robusta Resin
TonicSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningFarnesol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Behenate, Rosa Canina Seed Extract, C12-16 Alcohols, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Palmitic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Xanthan Gum, Fusanus Spicatus Wood Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Ormenis Multicaulis Oil, Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax, Shorea Robusta Resin, Sodium Gluconate, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Farnesol, Linalool, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberHomosalate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberSqualane
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveOctyldodecanol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePalmitic Acid
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSteareth-100
Gel FormingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingEctoin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantMyristic Acid
CleansingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingSalicylic Acid
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Squalane, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Palmitic Acid, Tocopherol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Steareth-100, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Limonene, Ectoin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Myristic Acid, Mentha Piperita Oil, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Salicylic Acid
Reviews
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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidTocopherol 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum