What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tabebuia Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Nasturtium Officinale Leaf Extract
Masking
Golden Extract
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Collagen
Moisturising
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
C15-19 Alkane
SolventDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate-13
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingVinyldimethicone
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Polystearate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlucose
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Jasminum Grandiflorum Flower Wax
Masking
Poloxamer 188
EmulsifyingFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Laurate
CleansingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLauric Acid
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Polyurethane-15
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Polyurethane-11
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Collagen Extract, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Water, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Betaine, Cetyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Tabebuia Bark Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Leaf Extract, Golden Extract, Malt Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Collagen, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, C15-19 Alkane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyacrylate-13, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Vinyldimethicone, Jojoba Esters, Butylene Glycol, Myristyl Myristate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Sucrose Polystearate, Xanthan Gum, Glucose, Adenosine, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cholesterol, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ceramide NP, Polyglycerin-3, Jasminum Grandiflorum Flower Wax, Poloxamer 188, Fructooligosaccharides, Propanediol, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Sodium Laurate, Beta-Glucan, Carbomer, Lauric Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Gold, Lactobacillus, Madecassoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Tocopherol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Cetyl Palmitate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Ascorbic Acid, Polyurethane-15, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Polyurethane-11, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Parfum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-8
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, PEG-8, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidCarbomer 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolTocopherol 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
