What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylheptyl Isostearate
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Diglycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Isohexadecane
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Algae Extract
EmollientRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Medicago Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Glucosamine Hcl
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Silanetriol
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-23
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Trideceth-6 Phosphate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Oleth-20
CleansingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Steareth-20
CleansingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
BHA
Antioxidant
Potassium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Methylheptyl Isostearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Diglycerin, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Isohexadecane, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Algae Extract, Retinol, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Dipeptide-2, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Medicago Sativa Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Bisabolol, Caffeine, Glucosamine Hcl, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Silanetriol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ceramide NP, Lecithin, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Dimethiconol, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Pantolactone, Sodium Lactate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Laureth-23, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Urea, Polyglycerin-3, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetyl Palmitate, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Potassium Sorbate, Oleth-20, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Isostearic Acid, Steareth-20, Polysorbate 20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, BHA, Potassium Citrate, Citric Acid, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide, Aminomethyl Propanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Polysilicone-11
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Steareth-20
CleansingChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Water, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Lauroyl Lysine, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polysilicone-11, CI 77891, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Steareth-20, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Chrysin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Citric Acid, Biotin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (formerly Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3) is a synthetic peptide. Its main job is to fight what researchers call "inflammaging".
"Inflammaging" is the slow, low-grade chronic inflammation that quietly breaks down collagen as we age.
This ingredient calms down a specific inflammation signal in your skin cells (called IL-6). When left unchecked, this signal triggers enzymes that break down collagen and elastin.
Clinical testing showed statistically significant improvements in:
Studies also found the more of this ingredient used, the more your skin produces Collagen I, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.
You'll likely see this ingredient paired with Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in the well-known Matrixyl 3000 complex for enhanced anti-aging effects.
A 3% concentration applied twice daily for two months showed meaningful skin rejuvenation results in clinical panels.
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (aka Pal-GHK) is a synthetic signal peptide made of three amino acids attached to palmitic acid.
That fatty acid attachment is the key: it boosts the peptide's ability to penetrate the skin barrier. This puts it closer to the dermal cells where it can actually make a difference.
Once there, it acts as a matrikine, a signaling peptide that prompts fibroblasts to produce more collagen, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.
In vitro studies show it can boost collagen production in skin cells even when UV-damaged skin samples were treated with it at a tiny concentration (it almost fully restored dermal collagen at 5ppm). It achieved this at 100x lower concentration than retinoic acid, which needed 500 ppm to do the same thing.
Human clinical data is promising, but modest:
A study of 23 female volunteers found a small but statistically significant increase (~4%) in skin thickness after treatment at 4 ppm.
A separate small trial of 15 women showed statistically significant reductions in wrinkle length, depth, and skin roughness after applying it twice daily for four weeks.
You'll likely see Pal-GHK paired with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 as part of the Matrixyl 3000 complex.
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSteareth-20 is an emulsifier and solubilizer. It is created from stearyl alcohol with ~20 units of ethylene oxide to give it a strong preference for water.
As an emulsifier, it helps oil-in-water emulsions like lotions, creams, and cleansers stay stable. It also solubilizes small amounts of oil-loving ingredients (like fragrance) into water-based formulas.
You'll likely find this ingredient with steareth-2 (it's oil-loving sister) where the two work together to give products a cushiony feel.
Typical use levels sit at around 1-5% and this ingredient has been found to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel.
Learn more about Steareth-20Water. 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
