What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water
MaskingParfum
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCommiphora Myrrha Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningStyrax Tonkinensis Resin Extract
PerfumingMelissa Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingCitral
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantFarnesol
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialWater, Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water, Parfum, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Glycerin, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Styrax Tonkinensis Resin Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil, Citral, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Farnesol, Benzyl Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentGlycerin
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingOleth-20
CleansingSalicylic Acid
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Seed Oil
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
PerfumingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLinolenic Acid
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCalcium Gluconate
HumectantBenzoic Acid
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingWater, Polysorbate 20, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Oleth-20, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Menthyl Lactate, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Linolenic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Calcium Gluconate, Benzoic Acid, Tocopherol, Limonene
Reviews
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 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 LimoneneTocopherol 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