What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Reticulata Peel Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTetrasodium EDTA
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycosaminoglycans
EmollientAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEchinacea Angustifolia Extract
MoisturisingSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingSymphytum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycereth-26, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 60, Panthenol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycosaminoglycans, Ascorbic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Symphytum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo
Skin ConditioningAlumina
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Benzoic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCinnamal
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Cucurbita Pepo, Alumina, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Lactate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, BHT, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Cinnamal, Parfum
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.
Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.
Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.
The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.
Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidBenzoic Acid is used to preserve and adjust the pH of products.
The antimicrobial property of Benzoic Acid helps elongate a product's shelf life. Its main role is to reduce fungi growth and is not found to be effective at fighting bacteria. Therefore Benzoic Acid is always added along with other preservatives.
In its pure form, Benzoic Acid looks like a white crystalline solid. It has slight solubility in water.
The name of Benzoic Acid comes from gum benzoin, which used to be the sole source of deriving this ingredient. Benzoic Acid is the most simple aromatic carboxylic acid.
Benzoic Acid is naturally occuring in strawberries, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. It has a slight scent but is not considered to be a fragrance.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is the oil derived from the seeds of a Sunflower. Sunflower seed oil is non-fragrant. It is an emollient, meaning it helps to soften the skin.
Sunflower seed oil contains many fatty acids. The fatty acids found in sunflower seeds include (from highest amount to least): linoleic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid.
These fatty acids help the skin create ceramides. Ceramides play a role in repairing the skin barrier.
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil helps moisturize the skin. This in turn helps the skin look more rejuvenated and smoother.
Sunflowers are rich in vitamin E.
Historians believe Indigenous cultures of North America domesticated sunflowers before corn. Thus they relied on sunflower oil for a variety of uses. One such use is moisturizing skin and hair.
Sunflower seed oil may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPhenoxyethanol 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 hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
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 AcetateTriethanolamine is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water