What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Ethyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer-3
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Mel
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Corn Starch Modified
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Polygamma-Glutamate
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Malic Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Triethyl Citrate, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Superoxide Dismutase, Ethyl Macadamiate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, C10-18 Triglycerides, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer-3, Panthenol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Mel, Phospholipids, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Adenosine, Sphingolipids, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Astaxanthin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Glyceryl Stearate, Sclerotium Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Corn Starch Modified, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Polygamma-Glutamate, Polysorbate 60, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sorbic Acid, Malic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citral, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool
Oenothera Biennis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Yucca Aloifolia Leaf/Root Extract
MaskingLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Quercetin Caprylate
Antioxidant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Glycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Tetrapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Copper PCA
HumectantSodium PCA
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Acrylates/Carbamate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingOctoxynol-9
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Isosteareth-200 Linoleate
EmollientPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCholesterol
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientBHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Oenothera Biennis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharide Isomerate, Yucca Aloifolia Leaf/Root Extract, Linoleic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Quercetin Caprylate, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Extract, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Tetrapeptide-21, Copper PCA, Sodium PCA, Urea, Bisabolol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Linolenic Acid, Acrylates/Carbamate Copolymer, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Phytosphingosine, Zinc PCA, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Laureth-7, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Octoxynol-9, Glyceryl Oleate, Isosteareth-200 Linoleate, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Cholesterol, Polyacrylamide, Xanthan Gum, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool 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 LinaloolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
