What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Cholesterol, Retinal, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Bakuchiol, Ceramide NP, Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Crithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Streptacantha Stem Extract
HumectantLactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract
Abrasive
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil
Skin Protecting
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Xylitol
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Silica, Retinol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bakuchiol, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Opuntia Streptacantha Stem Extract, Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xylitol, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitylglucoside, Trehalose, Sorbitan Oleate, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 80, Hexylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citric Acid
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 BakuchiolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol 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
