What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Vegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Acmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Vegetable Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Propolis Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Propanediol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Fructooligosaccharides, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Royal Jelly Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientPassiflora Incarnata Seed Oil
Skin Protecting
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Algin
Masking
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hexyldecyl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Lecithin
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Maris Aqua
HumectantMenthyl Lactate
Masking
Olus Oil
Emollient
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Pullulan
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingSodium Gluceptate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Yogurt
Skin ProtectingYogurt Powder
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, C13-15 Alkane, Distarch Phosphate, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Passiflora Incarnata Seed Oil, Propanediol, Squalane, Ethyl Linoleate, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Algin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Bisabolol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Disodium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hexyldecyl Stearate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Lactobacillus, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Maris Aqua, Menthyl Lactate, Olus Oil, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Potassium Phosphate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Pullulan, Saccharide Isomerate, Serine, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Sodium Gluceptate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trehalose, Urea, Yogurt, Yogurt Powder, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Salicylic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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
