What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit
AstringentEthyl Vanillate
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Juice, Glyceryl Stearate, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Squalane, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Riboflavin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rubus Idaeus Fruit, Ethyl Vanillate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Sodium PCA, Hydroxyproline, Proline, Panthenol, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycine Soja Oil, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Triethyl Citrate, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil is oil from the peel of an orange fruit.
Limonene and linalool make up the majority of oils from citrus peels. Limonene has a "citrus" fragrance. Citrus peels also contain flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.
Citrus peel is also a rich source of flavonoids. Flavonoids are natural antioxidants and help protect your skin against damage. Flavonoids are a group of compounds naturally found in vegetables and fruits.
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 Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel OilEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholTocopherol 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
