What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Olive Oil Glycereth-8 Esters
Emollient
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Mannitol
Humectant
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Sorbitol
Humectant
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sucrose
Humectant
Creatine
Skin ConditioningInositol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Hydroxytyrosol
Bleaching
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ceteareth-25
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Squalane, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Olive Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Coconut Alkanes, Cocos Nucifera Water, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glycerin, Mannitol, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter, Sodium PCA, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Sorbitol, Quercetin, Trehalose, Zea Mays Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Sucrose, Creatine, Inositol, Pentylene Glycol, Ferulic Acid, Hydroxytyrosol, Behenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Phospholipids, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Magnesium PCA, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ceteareth-25, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantBelamcanda Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Multiflora Fruit Extract
MaskingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Pistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
Abrasive
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Dimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Gold, Belamcanda Chinensis Root Extract, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Mica, Tin Oxide, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Parfum, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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.
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
