What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Glycerin
Humectant
Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Chlorella Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantBidens Pilosa Extract
HumectantTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Isohexadecane
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Glycerin, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Coconut Alkanes, Diheptyl Succinate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chlorella Ferment, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Betaine, Ergothioneine, Isohexadecane, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isononyl Isononanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
C13-16 Isoalkane
SolventAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cetearyl Olivate
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Palmitoyl Isoleucine
Skin ProtectingArginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Pantothenate
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingResveratrol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyphosphate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Tricalcium Phosphate
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantThiamine Hcl
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Tripeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Isononyl Isononanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, C13-16 Isoalkane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Heptyl Undecylenate, Sorbitan Olivate, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Adenosine, Tromethamine, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Maltodextrin, Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Ferulic Acid, Palmitoyl Isoleucine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Calcium Pantothenate, Glycine, Alanine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Lecithin, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Palmitic Acid, Serine, Valine, Resveratrol, Caprylyl Glycol, Isoleucine, Threonine, Proline, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Sodium Polyphosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Sodium Ascorbate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Glucose, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Copper Tripeptide-1, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Biotin, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Cyanocobalamin, Tocopherol, Tripeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hcl, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Linoleic Acid, Tripeptide-2, Hexapeptide-11, Beta-Carotene, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hyaluronic Acid, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl 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 AcetateWater. 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
