What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Fatty Acid Ester
EmulsifyingCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Dimethylaminoethanol Tartrate
EmollientRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Lentinus Edodes Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantCalcium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Fatty Acid Ester, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Myristate, Hyaluronic Acid, Dimethylaminoethanol Tartrate, Retinol, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, DMDM Hydantoin, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, Ubiquinone, Thioctic Acid, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Calcium Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Cyanocobalamin
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
2-Dimethylamino Ethanol
Emulsifying Wax Nf
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentTocopherol
Antioxidant
Calcium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Persea Gratissima Oil, 2-Dimethylamino Ethanol, Emulsifying Wax Nf, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Calcium Ascorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Ubiquinone, Retinol, Thioctic Acid, Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, Niacinamide, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Lecithin, Citric 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.
Calcium Ascorbate is the calcium salt of L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).
It is a water-loving form of vitamin C that's often discussed as being more formulation friendly and gentler than pure ascorbic acid (because ascorbic acid oxidizes easily in water-based products).
In skincare, it is mainly used as an antioxidant and skin conditioning ingredient. Vitamin C is commonly used to support brighter and more even looking skin.
There's some topical research suggesting calcium absorbate can be used in emulsions and may be helpful in skin hydration outcomes, but the best benefits of vitamin C are established for ascorbic acid.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Calcium AscorbatePantothenic Acid is also known as Vitamin B5. It is a water-soluble vitamin with skin hydrating and soothing properties.
Research shows pantothenic acid help support the skin's natural barrier by improving moisture retention. This is why you'll likely find this ingredient in soothing products or formulations for sensitive skin.
Some studies have explored oral supplementation of pantothenic acid in the acne context and found it to help reduce blemishes over time.
Though oral and topical use are different, this research helps explain why vitamin B5 is often included in skincare routines aimed at keeping skin balanced and hydrated.
Learn more about Pantothenic AcidRetinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolThioctic 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 TocopherolUbiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) is a molecule already found in our bodies. It is a potent antioxidant and skin-soothing ingredient.
Aging and environmental exposure diminishes our skin's natural ubiquinone levels. This is much like our natural collagen and elastin.
The good news is: studies show applying this ingredient topically replenishes ubiquinone levels in our skin. This also comes with a ton of skin benefits. These benefits include:
Ubiquinone is considered a large molecule and cannot be absorbed into the lower layers of skin. This is why it is believed to be such an effective antioxidant: it protects our skin in the upper layers and prevents damage in the deeper layers.
When used in sunscreen, ubiquinone is shown to increase ingredient stability, increase SPF factor, and add to infrared protection.
Fun fact: ubiquinone is fat-soluble.
Learn more about Ubiquinone
