What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPantolactone
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Pantolactone, Tocopherol, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethylimidazolidinone Rice Starch
AbsorbentPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract
UV FilterSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Maclura Cochinchinensis Leaf Prenylflavonoids
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPantolactone
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Acetic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Propanediol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Dimethylimidazolidinone Rice Starch, Panthenol, Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Maclura Cochinchinensis Leaf Prenylflavonoids, Madecassic Acid, Lactic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Pantolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Acetic Acid, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPantolactone is a synthetically created humectant.
As a humectant, Pantolactone helps draw moisture to the skin. It can help add hydration to your skin.
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 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
