What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPropylene Carbonate
SolventCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Silica
Abrasive
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77000
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polyethylene, Lauroyl Lysine, Ozokerite, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Beeswax, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Citric Acid, Silica, Tin Oxide, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499, CI 77742, CI 19140, CI 77288, CI 77289, CI 75470, CI 77163, CI 77510, CI 77000, CI 42090, CI 77007
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Taraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-73
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSodium Isethionate
CleansingPolyquaternium-4
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyquaternium-7
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Isopropanolamine
BufferingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Trehalose
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
CI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Acrylates Copolymer, Coconut Acid, Glycol Stearate, Cocamide Mipa, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Dicaprylyl Ether, Decyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-73, Glyceryl Oleate, Potassium Sorbate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Isethionate, Polyquaternium-4, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium PCA, Urea, Isopropanolamine, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Trehalose, Dextrin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Polyquaternium-51, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 60730
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited.
Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidLecithin 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 Tocopherol
