What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Crocus Sativus Stigma Extract
Pseudozyma Epicola/Evening Primrose Oil Ferment Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Hydroxyapatite
Abrasive
Dextrin
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Squalane, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Retinol, Retinal, Allantoin, Crocus Sativus Stigma Extract, Pseudozyma Epicola/Evening Primrose Oil Ferment Extract, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Hydroxyapatite, Dextrin, Carbomer, Sodium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Citrate
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingTannic Acid
AstringentBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningChlorogenic Acids
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
BHA
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Xylitylglucoside, Polysorbate 20, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Phenoxyethanol, Anhydroxylitol, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Xylitol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Retinol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Caprylyl Glycol, Decylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Phosphate, Tannic Acid, Bioflavonoids, Chlorogenic Acids, Glucose, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Potassium Sorbate, BHT, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Maltodextrin, BHA, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citronellol, Geraniol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolTocopherol 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
