What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Carrageenan
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Benzyl Alcohol, Carrageenan, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Bakuchiol, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Glycerin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Glycine Soja Oil, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Benzoate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Erythritol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycerin, Water, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Propanediol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Erythritol, Lecithin, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Oil is a plant-derived oil from soybean seeds. Like other oils, it is rich in essential fatty acids (mostly linoleic and oleic) that support skin hydration and barrier function.
The fatty acids are able to integrate into the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum to help soften skin and reduce water loss.
On top of that, soybean oil is rich in vitamins like vitamin E, a potent antioxidant.
Research on soybean's active components also point to anti-inflammatory, collagen-stimulating, antioxidant activity, and protection against UV-induced oxidative damage.
Most of this research applies to the broader soybean plant and not just the oil fraction alone.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to the oleic acid content.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilHelianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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
