What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Polyacrylamide
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingBHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Myristyl Myristate, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Squalane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Caprylyl Glycol, Jojoba Esters, Polysorbate 60, Polyacrylamide, Bisabolol, Arachidyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Behenyl Alcohol, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Sorbic Acid, Arachidyl Glucoside, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPhenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Melilotus Officinalis Extract
AstringentHaslea Ostrearia Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Peucedanum Ostruthium Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBuddleja Davidii Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Umbelliformis Extract
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Phenethyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Glycereth-26, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Lecithin, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Haslea Ostrearia Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Glycerin, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Peucedanum Ostruthium Leaf Extract, Buddleja Davidii Leaf Extract, Artemisia Umbelliformis Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Retinyl palmitate is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the superstar class of anti-aging ingredients that include tretinoin and retinol.
This particular ingredient has had a bumpy year with its rise and fall in popularity.
First, Retinyl palmitate is created from palmitic acid and retinol. It is a retinol ester and considered one of the weaker forms of retinoid.
This is because all retinoids have to be converted to Tretinoin, AKA retinoic acid. Retinyl Palmitate is pretty far down the line and has to go through multiple conversions before its effects are seen.
Due to this long and ineffective conversion line, the benefits of Retinyl Palmitate are debated.
Studies show Retinyl Palmitate to help:
Dermatologists say this ingredient is ineffective because it isn't used in high enough concentrations in cosmetics.
This ingredient used to be found in sunscreens to boost the efficacy of sunscreen filters.
The downfall of Retinyl Palmitate was due to released reports about the ingredient being correlated to sun damage and skin tumors.
While there is a study showing this ingredient to cause DNA damage when exposed to UV-A, there is no concrete proof of it being linked to skin cancer. It is safe to use when used correctly.
All retinoids increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun in the first few months of usage. Be especially careful with reapplying sunscreen when using any form of retinoid.
Currently, this ingredient is still allowed in cosmetics all over the world. In Canada, cosmetics must have a warning label stating the product to contain Retinyl Palmitate
Fun fact: This ingredient is often added to low-fat milk to increase the levels of Vitamin A.
Learn more about Retinyl PalmitateSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl 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 Water
