This hydrating serum is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice to hydrate skin.
This brightening serum is formulated around Tocopherol and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantDaucus Carota Sativa Juice
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Juice
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentCoconut Milk
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialDioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingZea Mays Silk Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCichorium Intybus Root Oligosaccharides
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientBambusa Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlgin
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLactic Acid
BufferingCalcium Ascorbate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingMalpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Water
MaskingLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentTapioca Starch
Thioctic Acid
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Juice, Citrus Limon Juice, Pyrus Malus Juice, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Coconut Milk, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Zea Mays Silk Extract, Glycine Soja Extract, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Cichorium Intybus Root Oligosaccharides, Glycerin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Xanthan Gum, Algin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Lactic Acid, Calcium Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Water, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Tapioca Starch, Thioctic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentPrunus Avium Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialHordeum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRose Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientYucca Filamentosa Root Extract
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentHoney
HumectantCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningMannitol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantMagnesium Sulfate
Niacinamide
SmoothingZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingGluconolactone
ChelatingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCI 75810
Cosmetic ColorantEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingMalpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Water
MaskingLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentTapioca Starch
Thioctic Acid
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Juice, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Prunus Avium Fruit Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Algae Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Rose Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Yucca Filamentosa Root Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Honey, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Water, Mannitol, Tocopherol, Magnesium Sulfate, Niacinamide, Zinc Sulfate, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate, Gluconolactone, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Ferulic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, CI 75810, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Cocos Nucifera Water, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Tapioca Starch, Thioctic Acid, Glycerin
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as Baobab Seed Oil. Like most plant oils, it works by sitting on the skin's surface to slow water loss and keep skin soft.
The fatty acid content of this oil is roughly 25-36% linoleic acid, 20-30% oleic acid, and 25-30% palmitic acid. Plus, it has smaller amounts of stearic and linolenic acid.
Linoleic acid is the most abundant fatty acid naturally found in your epidermis and your skin uses it to build ceramides.
Baobab seed oil also brings some Vitamin E that provides mild antioxidant activity and helps keep the oil itself stable.
An actual human study that ran a 48-hour occlusive patch test found this ingredient caused no significant irritation.
Because this ingredient is full of C16-18 fatty acids that Malassezia feeds on, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Adansonia Digitata Seed OilCitrus Limon Fruit Extract comes from lemons. While lemon extract is exfoliating and antimicrobial, it can also cause skin sensitivity.
Lemons contains antioxidants, which may help with anti-aging. They are also rich in citric acid, an AHA.
And of course, lemons are rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps with skin-brightening and increasing collagen production.
The acidity of lemons may work as an astringent for acne.
However, lemons can also cause skin sensitivity due to its limonene content. It can also increase photosensitivity, or sensitivity to the sun.
This ingredient is also used to add a lemon scent to products.
Learn more about Citrus Limon Fruit ExtractDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract comes from the root commonly known as carrot (the orange kind we eat!).
This extract contains beta-carotene, a pigment responsible for giving plants the orange color. Beta-carotene is a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants may help reduce the signs of aging.
Beta-carotene is the reason we turn orange if we eat too many carrots.
It should be noted coming into contact with the leaves of wild carrots can cause skin irritation. The sap causes phytophotodermatitis, or sensitivity exposed to sunlight.
This ingredient is created using the edible parts of the carrot.
Learn more about Daucus Carota Sativa Root ExtractThis extract comes from the Cabbage Palm, AKA the Açaí berry! It has skin soothing and antioxidant properties.
Acai berries are rich in antioxidants, including ferulic acid (The famous vitamin C stabilizer). Antioxidants protect your skin against damaging free-radical molecules.
You can also find carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, minerals, vitamin A, and Vitamin C in these berries.
Learn more about Euterpe Oleracea Fruit ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract comes from the Goji Berry. Goji berries are native to China and can be found across Eurasia.
Goji berries contain polysaccharides, carotenoids and flavonoids. Antioxidants help your body fight off free-radical molecules. These molecules are unstable and may damage your skin. By making free-radicals more stable, antioxidants can help with anti-aging.
Polysaccharides help hydrate the top layer of skin due to its ability to mimic natural carbohydrates.
Learn more about Lycium Barbarum Fruit ExtractThis ingredient is also known as acerola or barbados cherry. It is rich in antioxidants and polysaccharides, giving it skin protecting and hydrating properties.
This extract comes from the camu camu berry and is known for its exceptionally high vitamin C content.
This ingredient is also known as Indian Gooseberry or Amla Berry. It is skin hydrating and antioxidant rich.
Indian gooseberry is rich in antioxidants such as polyphenols, tannins, and vitamin C compounds.
This is a botanical extract from the rosemary plant (the same one you cook with). In skincare, it mostly works as a skin conditioning agent.
Its activity comes from a handful of polyphenols, carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. Almost 90% of the antioxidant activity of this ingredient can be attributed to canosol and carnosic acid.
These compounds protect your skin two ways:
1) They fight off free radicals, or the unstable molecules from things like sun and pollution that age and damage skin.
2) They help calm inflammation by switching off the chemical signals that tell skin to get red and irritated.
Lab studies also suggest that rosmarinic acid may help protect collagen and slow sugar-related damage to it.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
Rosemary can occasionally cause allergic contact dermatitis (due to carnosol), so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTapioca starch is a thickening agent and is made from the cassava root, also known as yucca.
According to a manufacturer, it is an excellent talc replacement.
It is gluten-free.
Learn more about Tapioca StarchThioctic Acid is an enzyme and antioxidant. A more common name for this is Alpha Lipoic Acid.
Alpha Lipoic Acid can be naturally found in the mitochondria of every cell.
Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. The antioxidants in Alpha Lipoic Acid have been shown to fight damage from cigarette smoke.
Studies also show Alpha Lipoic Acid plays a role in wound healing.
Thioctic Acid will break down when exposed to sunlight.
Many foods contain thioctic acid, including tomato, brussel sprouts, spinach, and broccoli.
Learn more about Thioctic 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 TocopherolThis extract comes from the flower more commonly known as red clover.