What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingBetaine
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Triethylhexanoin, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin, Polysorbate 60, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Squalane, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantSilica
Abrasive
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butyl Avocadate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, PEG-8, Silica, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, C12-16 Alcohols, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butyl Avocadate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Bisabolol, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Palmitic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Gluconate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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
