What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantDimethyl Sulfone
SolventHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHorse Fat
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingZingiber Officinale Root Oil
MaskingEremophila Mitchellii Wood Oil
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Nardus Oil
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingCinnamomum Zeylanicum Leaf Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil
AstringentWater, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dimethyl Sulfone, Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Horse Fat, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Alcohol, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Eremophila Mitchellii Wood Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Cymbopogon Nardus Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCitrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientCyclodextrin
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantHydrogenated Poly(C6-20 Olefin)
AbrasiveProtease
ExfoliatingAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantGlutathione
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialWater, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dextrin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Gluconolactone, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Allantoin, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Metaphosphate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Cyclodextrin, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Madecassoside, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-20 Olefin), Protease, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Glutathione, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Beta-Carotene, Ferulic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidTocopherol 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