What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Glucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantSilybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactoferrin
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningPentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Acetylhydroxyprolyl Dipeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Dipeptide-51
Skin Conditioning
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Fructose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Lecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSilica
Abrasive
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Squalane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Tranexamic Acid, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Lactoferrin, Plankton Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Acetylhydroxyprolyl Dipeptide-12, Hexapeptide-11, Hexapeptide-12, Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Dipeptide-51, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Phospholipids, Fructose, Betaine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Propanediol, Lecithin, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone, Mannitol, Phosphatidylcholine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Silica, Tin Oxide, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Nigra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Artocarpus Heterophyllus Seed Extract
BleachingPhyllanthus Emblica Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDaucus Carota Sativa Extract
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Citrate
BufferingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Water, Azelaic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hexylresorcinol, Gluconolactone, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract, Morus Nigra Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Artocarpus Heterophyllus Seed Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Tocopherol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Ferulic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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
