What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Nephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Phytic Acid
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingOctoxynol-9
EmulsifyingArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOleth-10
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Retinol, Bakuchiol, Nephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Silybum Marianum Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Phospholipids, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Adenosine, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Sodium PCA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phytic Acid, Tocopherol, Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetyl Alcohol, Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Arachidyl Glucoside, Octoxynol-9, Arachidyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Oleth-10, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Ascorbate, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTribehenin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
PEG-10 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingPEG-8
HumectantMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingChrysin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Steareth-20
CleansingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Bakuchiol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Glycerin, PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides, Glyceryl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Retinol, Ceramide Ng, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Lecithin, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Hydroxide, Tribehenin, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipeptide-2, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, PEG-10 Phytosterol, PEG-8, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Chrysin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Steareth-20, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Glucoside, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arachidyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol made from the the arachidic acid found in peanut oil.
Despite having "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethanol.
This ingredient is a multitasker:
Just be sure to patch this ingredient if you have a peanut allergy (though this ingredient is highly processed and the allergenic proteins are typically removed).
Learn more about Arachidyl AlcoholThis ingredient is a plant-based surfactant and emulsifier. It helps oil and water based ingredients mix evenly to improve formula stability without adding a "greasy" feel.
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 BakuchiolBehenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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
