What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate
Emulsifying
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Algin
Maris Aqua
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningP-Anisic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, Xanthan Gum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C10-18 Triglycerides, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Coco-Caprylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Algin, Maris Aqua, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Sodium Lactate, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, P-Anisic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Parfum, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDibutyl Adipate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dibutyl Adipate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Disodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate, Silica, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Behenyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Sucrose Distearate, Citric Acid, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol 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
