What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Glucosamine Hcl
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract
AstringentSolanum Tuberosum Pulp Extract
SmoothingRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningNarcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
Astringent
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Algin
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Farnesol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Geraniol
Perfuming
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Heptyl Undecylenate, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Glycerin, Propanediol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Glucosamine Hcl, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Solanum Tuberosum Pulp Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Algae Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Salicylic Acid, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Hydrolyzed Algin, Tocopherol, Maris Sal, Squalane, Lauroyl Lysine, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Farnesol, Linalool, Citronellol, Citral, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Fruit Butter
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAmorphophallus Konjac Root Extract
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil 0.045%
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Persea Gratissima Fruit Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetyl Alcohol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Stearic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ferulic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil 0.045%
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis oil comes from the outer layer (bran) of rice grains. It is packed with skin-friendly fatty acids to soften and condition the skin while supporting your moisture barrier.
What makes it stand out from other plant oils is its naturally high concentration of gamma-oryzanol, a potent antioxidant. This antioxidant has shown some UV-absorptive properties in research.
Other antioxidants found in this oil include tocopherols, tocotrienols, and ferulic acid.
According to manufacturers, this oil has a lightweight texture that absorbs nicely.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics and it has not shown to be a skin sensitizer in testing (unless you have a known rice allergy).
Due to the fatty acids (primarily Oleic Acid ~40%, Linoleic Acid ~30%, and some Palmitic Acid), this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Oryza Sativa Bran OilThis ingredient is the oil from the apricot.
Apricot Kernel Oil is an emollient and helps soften skin. This is due to its fatty acid components. Some of these fatty acids include linoleic and oleic acid.
This ingredient also has antioxidant properties from Vitamins A, C, and E. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. Besides being antioxidants, these vitamins provide plenty of skin benefits as well.
Learn more about Prunus Armeniaca Kernel OilSodium 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 HyaluronateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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
