What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCaryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Extract
Emulsion StabilisingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningVanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil
EmollientRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil Expressed
PerfumingSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isoamyl Laurate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Levulinate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil Expressed, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Anisate, Tocopherol, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingGold
Cosmetic ColorantBelamcanda Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Multiflora Fruit Extract
MaskingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLecithin
EmollientPistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasiveDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Dimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Tocopherol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Gold, Belamcanda Chinensis Root Extract, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Mica, Tin Oxide, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Parfum, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, CI 77891
Reviews
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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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