What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPorphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentZinc PCA
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
Astringent
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientSucrose
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Propylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Heptyl Undecylenate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Zinc PCA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Sucrose, Saccharide Isomerate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sea Water
HumectantTaurine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBehenyl Behenate
EmollientArginine
Masking
Tribehenin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycine
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Sulfate
Water, Glycerin, Isododecane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Propanediol, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Sucrose Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sea Water, Taurine, Xanthan Gum, Behenyl Behenate, Arginine, Tribehenin, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Sulfite, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Sulfate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl 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 AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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.
Sodium 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
