What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningArctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingAlcohol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantThioctic Acid
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Citric Acid, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Thioctic Acid, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingPullulan
Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil
MaskingEpilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningNannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantBackhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract
AstringentCodonopsis Lanceolata Extract
AntioxidantCitrus Glauca Fruit Extract
HumectantDavidsonia Jerseyana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Panthenol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Pullulan, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Codonopsis Lanceolata Extract, Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract, Davidsonia Jerseyana Fruit Extract, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSclerotium Gum is a polysaccharide gum made by the fungus, Sclerotium rolfssii. It is similar to xanthan gum.
In cosmetics, Sclerotium Gum is used to thicken the texture and to help stabilize other ingredients.
As an emulsifier, Sclerotium Gum helps prevent ingredients from separating, such as water and oil.
Learn more about Sclerotium GumTocopheryl 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