What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSorbitol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
TonicBetaine
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantTuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientSaussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningFreesia Refracta Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBixa Orellana Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Sorbitol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Persea Gratissima Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Betaine, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Butylene Glycol, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Carbomer, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Arginine, Potassium Sorbate, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Parfum, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAgastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Incarnata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantUsnea Barbata Extract
Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPulsatilla Koreana Extract
Skin ConditioningBlack Strap Powder
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Usnea Barbata Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Black Strap Powder, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosa Damascena Callus Culture Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool
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.
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 preservatives
Butylene 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 GlycolCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool 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 LinaloolTocopherol 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