What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Palm Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Orange Roughy Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Batyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Porphyridium Polysaccharide
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientBeer Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Placental Protein
HumectantHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Royal Jelly Protein
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Lactoferrin
Skin ConditioningLysolecithin
EmulsifyingBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Pentylene Glycol, Squalane, Orange Roughy Oil, Tocotrienols, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Batyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Porphyridium Polysaccharide, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Beer Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Placental Protein, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Hydrolyzed Royal Jelly Protein, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Lactoferrin, Lysolecithin, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Vinyldimethicone
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMadecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Xylitol
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Oil
Antimicrobial
Methylpropanediol
SolventAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Glucose
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Sodium Laurate
CleansingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLauric Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
C12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingCollagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Copaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Taurine
BufferingGlycogen
HumectantHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Artemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningMyrtus Communis Oil
Masking
Rose Flower Oil
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
Masking
Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil
Antimicrobial
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Camphor
Masking
Beta-Caryophyllene
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Perfuming
Lavandula Oil/Extract
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Pinene
Masking
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Vinyldimethicone, Dicaprylyl Ether, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Stearyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Beeswax, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Xylitylglucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Anhydroxylitol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Asiatic Acid, Glycoproteins, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Xylitol, Centella Asiatica Oil, Methylpropanediol, Allantoin, Propanediol, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Xanthan Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Glucose, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sodium Laurate, Cyclodextrin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Polyglycerin-3, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Lauric Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Octyldodecanol, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycolipids, Caffeine, Madecassoside, Centella Asiatica Extract, C12-13 Pareth-9, Collagen Amino Acids, Ceramide NP, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Resveratrol, Arginine, Taurine, Glycogen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Ectoin, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Retinol, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Maltodextrin, Ascorbic Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Phytosphingosine, Tocopherol, Sucrose Distearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Dna, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Myrtus Communis Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Aspartic Acid, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Camphor, Beta-Caryophyllene, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Lavandula Oil/Extract, Linalyl Acetate, Pinene
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 AllantoinButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateWe don't have a description for Hydrolyzed Elastin yet.
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.
Sodium 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
