This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Ceramide NP and Beta-Glucan to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This brightening serum is formulated around Bakuchiol and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Himanthalia Elongata Extract
Skin Protecting
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Pteris Multifida Extract
Antioxidant
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Dextrin
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSucrose Distearate
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Pyracantha Fortuneana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Cyclomethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Himanthalia Elongata Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Malt Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Pteris Multifida Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Methylpropanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta-Glucan, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Dextrin, Disodium EDTA, Bisabolol, Polyquaternium-51, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Sucrose Distearate, Cholesterol, Pyracantha Fortuneana Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool, Limonene
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Borago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Tripeptide-29
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
Abrasive
Caesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Squalane, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Bakuchiol, Tocopherol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Azelaic Acid, Zinc Oxide, Xanthan Gum, Linoleic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Wax, Borago Officinalis Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Lactic Acid, Tripeptide-29, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Water, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tin Oxide, Caesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl 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 GlycerinWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
