What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Carbomer, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Stearyl Alcohol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol
Glycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
Abrasive1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCoconut Acid
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingCellulose
AbsorbentOryza Sativa Powder
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Propanediol
SolventSodium Chloride
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArtemisia Caruifolia Powder
AbrasiveParfum
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSaururus Chinensis Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantVigna Radiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coconut Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cellulose, Oryza Sativa Powder, Sodium Isethionate, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Propanediol, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Artemisia Caruifolia Powder, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Dextrin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract
Reviews
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 GlycerinSodium 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum