What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Pea Palmitate
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pea Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Phospholipids, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone, Alcohol, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Cetearyl Methicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Maltodextrin, Beeswax, Carbomer, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Superoxide Dismutase
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Dimethyl Mea
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tyrosine
MaskingParfum
Masking
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Stearate
CleansingHydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylamide, Glyceryl Stearate Se, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dimethyl Mea, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Laureth-7, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tyrosine, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Stearate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Sodium Chloride, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Eugenol, Hydroxycitronellal
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 PalmitateCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
