What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Deoxyphytantriyl Palmitamide Mea
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water
Skin ConditioningPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Sea Water
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Methylpropanediol, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Lactobionic Acid, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Bakuchiol, Sea Water, Panthenol, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol
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
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. It has antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning, and antioxidant properties.
You'll likely see it called a "retinol replacement" but the two are technically not related. This is because bakuchiol is able to flip many of the same switches in your skin cells to tell them to:
1) produce more collagen (type I, III, and IV)
2) activate the same genes retinoids do
Unlike retinoids, this ingredient will not increase photosensitivity and is safe to use during pregnancy (but please still check in with your doctor!).
The flagship clinical trial from Dhaliwal et al. 2019 found 0.5% bakuchiol (twice daily) and 0.5% retinol (once daily) reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation equally, but bakuchiol had significantly less irritation.
Systematic reviews also back this up:
Bakuchiol is comparable to retinol for photoaging but with better tolerability. It also has mild antibacterial properties against Cutibacterium acnes and antifungal activity in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes.
The reason bakuchiol works well is due to its structure; it is a meroterpene phenol, or a hybrid molecule. The phenol half acts as an antioxidant while the terpene half is fat-loving. This helps the molecule slip through the skin barrier.
This ingredient is usually used between 0.5-2%. Only one case of contact dermatitis has ever been reported for this ingredient.
Learn more about BakuchiolWater. 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
