What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientBakuchiol
AntimicrobialRetinol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetyl Alcohol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gum, Persea Gratissima Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Bakuchiol, Retinol, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingIsohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCellulose
AbsorbentSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingRetinol
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantWater, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Behenate, Ceteareth-20, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cellulose, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Chlorphenesin, Polysorbate 20, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Retinol, BHT, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Laureth-7, Ascorbic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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.
Retinol 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