What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PPG-24-Glycereth-24
EmulsifyingJojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Verbascum Thapsus Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Raspberry Ketone
Masking
Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Masking
Santalum Album Oil
Masking
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Cystine
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Mannitol
Humectant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhytic Acid
Citric Acid
Buffering
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
C12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientP-Anisic Acid
Masking
Benzyl Glycol
SolventMethylpropanediol
SolventSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, PPG-24-Glycereth-24, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Trehalose, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Allantoin, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium PCA, Sodium Levulinate, Ergothioneine, Beta-Carotene, Lactobacillus Ferment, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Verbascum Thapsus Extract, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Raspberry Ketone, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Santalum Album Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Bisabolol, Cystine, Glycine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Mannitol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, C12-13 Pareth-3, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Glyceryl Caprylate, P-Anisic Acid, Benzyl Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Lauryl Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Glycogen
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil
Astringent
Parfum
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil
Masking
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Ammonium Bicarbonate
BufferingGlucose
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Lauryl Laurate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tapioca Starch, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Glycogen, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil, Parfum, Tocopherol, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Ammonium Bicarbonate, Glucose, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneSodium 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
