What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Di-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate
EmollientGlycereth-7 Triacetate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Chondrus Crispus
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Arctium Majus Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Symphytum Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Vegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingPPG-15 Stearyl Ether Benzoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMenthoxypropanediol
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 75120
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Di-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate, Glycereth-7 Triacetate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Lactic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Chondrus Crispus, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Zea Mays Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Vegetable Oil, Sodium PCA, Dimethicone, Linoleic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Caprylyl Glycol, Phospholipids, Beta-Carotene, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sclerotium Gum, Decylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Allantoin, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polysorbate 20, Sorbic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Menthoxypropanediol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, BHT, Potassium Sorbate, CI 75120
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Selenium Sulfide
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydrophilic Polyether Polyurethane
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Distichon Extract
Skin ProtectingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Taraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentTriticum Aestivum Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningBrain Extract
Skin ProtectingLecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Oryza Sativa Starch, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Selenium Sulfide, Papain, Squalane, Thioctic Acid, Hydrophilic Polyether Polyurethane, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Hordeum Distichon Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Triticum Aestivum Leaf Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Brain Extract, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, CI 77288
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinAscorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited.
Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateGlycerin (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.
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 SorbateRetinyl palmitate is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the superstar class of anti-aging ingredients that include tretinoin and retinol.
This particular ingredient has had a bumpy year with its rise and fall in popularity.
First, Retinyl palmitate is created from palmitic acid and retinol. It is a retinol ester and considered one of the weaker forms of retinoid.
This is because all retinoids have to be converted to Tretinoin, AKA retinoic acid. Retinyl Palmitate is pretty far down the line and has to go through multiple conversions before its effects are seen.
Due to this long and ineffective conversion line, the benefits of Retinyl Palmitate are debated.
Studies show Retinyl Palmitate to help:
Dermatologists say this ingredient is ineffective because it isn't used in high enough concentrations in cosmetics.
This ingredient used to be found in sunscreens to boost the efficacy of sunscreen filters.
The downfall of Retinyl Palmitate was due to released reports about the ingredient being correlated to sun damage and skin tumors.
While there is a study showing this ingredient to cause DNA damage when exposed to UV-A, there is no concrete proof of it being linked to skin cancer. It is safe to use when used correctly.
All retinoids increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun in the first few months of usage. Be especially careful with reapplying sunscreen when using any form of retinoid.
Currently, this ingredient is still allowed in cosmetics all over the world. In Canada, cosmetics must have a warning label stating the product to contain Retinyl Palmitate
Fun fact: This ingredient is often added to low-fat milk to increase the levels of Vitamin A.
Learn more about Retinyl PalmitateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
