What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
C15-19 Alkane
SolventIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
BHA
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Betaine
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, C15-19 Alkane, Isopropyl Myristate, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Allantoin, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, BHA, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Pisum Sativum Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Rosa Moschata Seed Oil
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Retinol, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, BHT, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sodium PCA, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citronellol, Coumarin, Geraniol, Linalool, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolWater. 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
