What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAcacia Seyal Gum Extract
HumectantGlycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingEuphrasia Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Valine
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Lecithin
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingSodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Caffeine, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Glycine Soja Protein, Euphrasia Officinalis Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Valine, Glycine, Lecithin, Parfum, Tocopherol, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Carrageenan
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningCalcium Chloride
AstringentChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Chondrus Crispus
Masking
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingChondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Chloride
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose
Humectant
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract
TonicAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Tangerina Extract
TonicMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Calcium Lactate
AstringentArbutin
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Carrageenan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glucomannan, Calcium Chloride, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin, Propanediol, Chondrus Crispus, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Potassium Chloride, Pentylene Glycol, Sucrose, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Tangerina Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Calcium Lactate, Arbutin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Potassium Hydroxide, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol 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
