What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Methylpropanediol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Bakuchiol, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Adenosine, C12-16 Alcohols, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Boron Nitride, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Parfum, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, CI 14700, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientCentella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Squalane
Emollient
Tripeptide-29
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Coenochloris Signiensis Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Lecithin
Emollient
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Borago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Alcohol, Coconut Alkanes, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Diheptyl Succinate, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Stearate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Squalane, Tripeptide-29, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glycolic Acid, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Sorbate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Linoleic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Coenochloris Signiensis Extract, Maltodextrin, Lecithin, Bakuchiol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ceramide Ng, Ascorbic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 BakuchiolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
