What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientMannitol
Humectant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlycereth-26
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingParfum
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Glutathione
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentBenzyl Glycol
SolventBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
SurfactantArginine
Masking
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSodium Surfactin
CleansingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Leucine
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Phenylalanine
Masking
Threonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingHistidine
Humectant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, 2,3-Butanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Mannitol, Bakuchiol, Tocopherol, Synthetic Beeswax, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glycereth-26, Cetearyl Olivate, Polysorbate 60, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sorbitan Olivate, Carbomer, Glyceryl Glucoside, Sucrose, Tromethamine, Parfum, Squalane, Zea Mays Starch, Glutathione, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Phosphatidylcholine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Benzyl Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate, Arginine, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sodium Surfactin, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ferulic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Glycine, Serine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Leucine, Lysine, Alanine, Proline, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Tyrosine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingEthyl Linoleate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Rutin
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxycinnamic Acid
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Salicylic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ethyl Linoleate, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Bakuchiol, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Rutin, Carbomer, Hydroxycinnamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. It has antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning, and antioxidant properties.
You'll likely see it called a "retinol replacement" but the two are technically not related. This is because bakuchiol is able to flip many of the same switches in your skin cells to tell them to:
1) produce more collagen (type I, III, and IV)
2) activate the same genes retinoids do
Unlike retinoids, this ingredient will not increase photosensitivity and is safe to use during pregnancy (but please still check in with your doctor!).
The flagship clinical trial from Dhaliwal et al. 2019 found 0.5% bakuchiol (twice daily) and 0.5% retinol (once daily) reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation equally, but bakuchiol had significantly less irritation.
Systematic reviews also back this up:
Bakuchiol is comparable to retinol for photoaging but with better tolerability. It also has mild antibacterial properties against Cutibacterium acnes and antifungal activity in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes.
The reason bakuchiol works well is due to its structure; it is a meroterpene phenol, or a hybrid molecule. The phenol half acts as an antioxidant while the terpene half is fat-loving. This helps the molecule slip through the skin barrier.
This ingredient is usually used between 0.5-2%. Only one case of contact dermatitis has ever been reported for this ingredient.
Learn more about BakuchiolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate is a plant-derived emulsifier whose only job is to keep the oily and watery parts of a formula blended so it doesn't separate into layers.
It's compatible with a wide-range of active ingredients and especially good at making emulsions survive heat/freeze cycles.
Typical use concentrations range from 2-3% and it works across a pH of 4.5-8.5.
This ingredient has been found safe to use in cosmetics and has a low irritation profile.
Because it's build on stearic acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. Stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that falls within the range (C11-24) that Malassezia can feed on.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose DistearatePotassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol 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
