What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhytic Acid
Steareth-21
CleansingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSqualane
Emollient
Pullulan
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Citronellyl Methylcrotonate
Masking
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingMethylpropanediol
SolventSodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phytic Acid, Steareth-21, Gluconolactone, Steareth-2, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Cholesterol, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Silica, Calcium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Squalane, Pullulan, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Citronellyl Methylcrotonate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arbutin, Kojic Acid, Niacinamide, Mandelic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Tocopherol, Ceteareth-12, Lecithin, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Disodium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide
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 EthylhexylglycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol 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
