What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Vinyldimethicone
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Erythritol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glucose
Humectant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Phytate
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentGlycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingHexapeptide-2
Bleaching
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Vinyldimethicone, Diisostearyl Malate, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylyl Methicone, Erythritol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glucose, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Palmitic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Stearic Acid, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Retinal, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ceramide NP, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Dextrin, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Tromethamine, Dipropylene Glycol, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Valine, Threonine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Hyaluronic Acid, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Hexapeptide-2, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Biotin, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Myristyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientBis-Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Gleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Mucor Miehei Extract
AstringentRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
Antioxidant
Glucosamine Hcl
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Urea
Buffering
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysilicone-11
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Isohexadecane
EmollientSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Poloxamer 338
EmulsifyingEthylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Parfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, PEG-40 Stearate, Myristyl Nicotinate, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Sorbitan Stearate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Gleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Mucor Miehei Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Glucosamine Hcl, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Urea, Lecithin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 80, Stearyl Alcohol, Polysilicone-11, Cetyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Oleate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Sorbitan Laurate, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Poloxamer 338, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Aminomethyl Propanol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, 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.
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
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene 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 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
