What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
EmollientSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantPotassium Hydrolyzed Polygamma-Glutamate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbitan Palmitate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantPhytic Acid
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialLevulinic Acid
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Coco-Caprylate, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Potassium Hydrolyzed Polygamma-Glutamate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Sorbitan Oleate, Tocopherol, Phytic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Levulinic Acid, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventHydrogenated Rice Bran Oil
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPanax Ginseng Root Water
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPerilla Ocymoides Seed Extract
AntioxidantBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
EmollientMannitol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantGlycine Max Oil
EmollientMyristic Acid
CleansingAcrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Arachidic Acid
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSilica
AbrasivePhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantCanola Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Diisostearyl Malate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C14-22 Alcohols, Arachidyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Caprylate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Mannitol, Glucose, Glycine Max Oil, Myristic Acid, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Arachidic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Silica, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Canola Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf 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.
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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol 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