This hydrating serum is formulated around Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Asiaticoside to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingOpuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Algin
Glycine Soja Oil
EmollientPullulan
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasiveParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingSodium Phytate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Algae Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Caffeine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sclerotium Gum, Maris Sal, Trehalose, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Hydrolyzed Algin, Glycine Soja Oil, Pullulan, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Silica, Parfum, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Sodium Phytate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77289
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHexyldecanol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantCeteth-20 Phosphate
CleansingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantEthyl Linoleate
EmollientAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningNaringenin
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPanthenyl Triacetate
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientSphingolipids
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningEpigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
AntioxidantGallyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPropyl Gallate
AntioxidantXylitol
HumectantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingDicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingIsoceteth-20
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeP-Anisic Acid
MaskingPhytic Acid
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Propanediol, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Hexyldecanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xylitylglucoside, Ceteth-20 Phosphate, Anhydroxylitol, Ethyl Linoleate, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Naringenin, Cyanocobalamin, Panthenyl Triacetate, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Bisabolol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Sphingolipids, Phospholipids, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Propyl Gallate, Xylitol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Stearic Acid, Dicetyl Phosphate, Isoceteth-20, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Phytic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol 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