What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingIpomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Alcaligenes Polysaccharides
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhytic Acid
Citric Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolianthes Tuberosa Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrochloric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-10, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Polyquaternium-51, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polianthes Tuberosa Polysaccharide, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Hydrochloric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientSmithsonite Extract
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientTapioca Starch
Secale Cereale Seed Extract
AbrasivePaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHelichrysum Stoechas Extract
TonicHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPlantago Lanceolata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningDiaminopropionoyl Tripeptide-33
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientIsomalt
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenylpropanol
MaskingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C10-18 Triglycerides, Smithsonite Extract, Glycerin, C12-16 Alcohols, Methylpropanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Tapioca Starch, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Helichrysum Stoechas Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Plantago Lanceolata Seed Extract, Lycium Barbarum Callus Culture Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Diaminopropionoyl Tripeptide-33, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Isomalt, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Phenethyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinTocopherol 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