What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantArachis Hypogaea Oil
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCoceth-7
EmulsifyingPPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingDimethiconol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantIsohexadecane
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
T-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingWater, Retinyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Arachis Hypogaea Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Octyldodecanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Coceth-7, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Triethanolamine, Dimethiconol, Carbomer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Parfum, Tocopherol, Isohexadecane, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, T-Butyl Alcohol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Retinyl 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 PalmitateTocopherol 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