What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPrunus Persica Seed Powder
AbrasiveStearic Acid
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingGlucose
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHydrastis Canadensis Extract
MaskingHedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlucose Oxidase
StabilisingLactoperoxidase
StabilisingPotassium Iodide
AntimicrobialPotassium Thiocyanate
StabilisingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Glycerin, Prunus Persica Seed Powder, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Glucose, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Glucose Oxidase, Lactoperoxidase, Potassium Iodide, Potassium Thiocyanate, Limonene
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningEpilobium Angustifolium Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSalix Alba Extract
Skin ConditioningSpiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingThymus Vulgaris Oil
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycerin, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Oleate, Decyl Glucoside, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Salix Alba Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract, Salicylic Acid, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Thymus Vulgaris 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 GlycerinTocopherol 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