What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Dibutyl Adipate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Laurate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sclerotium Gum, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPolydextrose
HumectantSodium Lactate
Buffering
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Resveratrol, Ferulic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Cyclodextrin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Polydextrose, Sodium Lactate, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is a stable form of Vitamin C. It is created by combining glucose from starch.
When applied to skin, Ascorbyl Glucoside turns into Ascorbic Acid.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may damage skin cells.
It can help to reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, and brighten skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Ascorbyl GlucosideEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 ingredient is used in skincare as a delivery system.
It works by "encapsulating" active ingredients with its unique ring shape that is water-loving on the outside and oil-loving on the inside. This improves the stability and absorption of the product into the skin.
According to a manufacturer, it also offer some moisturizing effects.
Learn more about Hydroxypropyl CyclodextrinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
