What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Isostearyl Linoleate
EmollientIsodecyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningEthylcellulose
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Retinyl Sunflowerseedate
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Epilobium Angustifolium Extract
Skin ConditioningSilica Silylate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octyldodecanol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isostearyl Linoleate, Isodecyl Salicylate, Ethylcellulose, Tocopherol, Retinyl Sunflowerseedate, Bakuchiol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Silica Silylate
Squalane
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Carica Papaya Seed Oil
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCucurbita Pepo Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCellulose Acetate Butyrate
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Tricaprylin
Perfuming
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Squalane, Synthetic Wax, Diisostearyl Malate, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Carica Papaya Seed Oil, Mica, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Bakuchiol, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Retinol, Astaxanthin, Arginine, Glutamic Acid, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tricaprylin, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 BakuchiolTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
