What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
PEG-20
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientRetinal
Skin Conditioning
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phospholipids, PEG-20, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Retinal, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Ceramide NP, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Sodium PCA, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Lactic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
Humectant
Wheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phospholipids, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Ascorbic Acid, Retinal, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium PCA, Wheat Amino Acids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyproline, Ethylhexylglycerin, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/capric glycerides are a mixture of fats from caprylic and capric acids.
As an emollient, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides helps soften and moisturize the skin. Emollients create a moisture-trapping film on the skin.
Emulsifiers prevent ingredients from separating.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric GlyceridesEthylhexylglycerin 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.
Phospholipids are a family of skin-identical lipids that makeup the structural backbone of every cell membrane in your body.
In cosmetics, they function as skin conditioning agents with emulsifier and surfactant properties. They're typically sourced from soybean or sunflower lecithin (or sometimes egg yolk or marine sources).
Because they mirror the lipids naturally found in the deeper layers of your skin, topical phospholipids help reinforce the lipid matrix, reduce transepidermal water loss, and leave skin feeling conditioned.
They're also used to form liposomes, or tiny self-assembling vesible used to stabilize actives like vitamin c or retinol. This helps these ingredients integrate into the upper layers of skin more easily.
Phospholipids are compatible with everything and the CIR Expert Panel has concluded them to be safe at current use levels.
Some types of phospholipids include:
Learn more about PhospholipidsRetinal is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the gold-standard class of anti-aging ingredients.
Retinal has many benefits as other retinoids: improve skin texture, reduce large pores, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, heal scars, and fight acne.
Studies show retinal may work at a faster rate than retinol due to its structure.
All retinoids have to be converted into retinoic acid before starting to work. Some retinoids take several steps of conversion before binding. Retinal is only one step away, making it more potent.
Like other retinoids, retinal may be irritating. It is best to ease into using this ingredient frequently.
Using the 'ramp up' method, start by using retinol once a week. This gives your skin time to adjust and decrease irritation. Once you feel ready, you can slowly increase the frequency of retinol use.
Using retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few weeks of use. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
Learn more about RetinalSodium 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 PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
