What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingMalic Acid
BufferingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentLactic Acid
BufferingAzelaic Acid
BufferingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialSodium Phytate
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
AntioxidantLactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Fibroin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Mandelic Acid, Gluconolactone, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Malic Acid, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Phytate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Tocopherol, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Hydrolyzed Fibroin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningBentonite
AbsorbentKaolin
AbrasiveCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantHelichrysum Italicum Flower Extract
PerfumingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyacrylate-13
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingWater, Bentonite, Kaolin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Caffeine, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Lecithin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Polyacrylate-13, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20
Reviews
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycerinMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract is from the Neem tree. Neem trees originate from India.
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
The flowers of this tree are lilac colored.
Learn more about Melia Azadirachta Flower ExtractMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract is extract from the neem plant.
The leaves of this tree contain flavonoids and polyphenols. These two compounds are antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. Further research is needed as to their effects when applied on skin.
Tocopherol 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