What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningLactobionic Acid
BufferingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialArginine
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Propylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Lactobionic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Triethanolamine, Mandelic Acid, Arginine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Methylparaben, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCalcium Carbonate
AbrasiveCalcium Gluconate
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPhytonadione Epoxide
AstringentCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCholecalciferol
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingGlucose
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAroma
Water, Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Arginine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Gluconate, Phospholipids, Phytonadione Epoxide, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Pantothenic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Cholecalciferol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Benzoate, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Glucose, Potassium Sorbate, Aroma
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arginine is an amino acid that is important for human development. Your body uses is it to produce hair keratin and skin collagen.
As a cosmetic ingredient, Arginine has antioxidant properties and can also help repair damaged skin. This ingredient is derived either synthetically or from animals.
Arginine isn't fungal acne safe when used in the presence of other lipids (fats, fatty acids, oils, esters, etc). Oils and fats occur naturally within the skin, so take caution when using Arginine if you're prone to fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseRetinyl palmitate is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the superstar class of anti-aging ingredients that include tretinoin and retinol.
This particular ingredient has had a bumpy year with its rise and fall in popularity.
First, Retinyl palmitate is created from palmitic acid and retinol. It is a retinol ester and considered one of the weaker forms of retinoid.
This is because all retinoids have to be converted to Tretinoin, AKA retinoic acid. Retinyl Palmitate is pretty far down the line and has to go through multiple conversions before its effects are seen.
Due to this long and ineffective conversion line, the benefits of Retinyl Palmitate are debated.
Studies show Retinyl Palmitate to help:
Dermatologists say this ingredient is ineffective because it isn't used in high enough concentrations in cosmetics.
This ingredient used to be found in sunscreens to boost the efficacy of sunscreen filters.
The downfall of Retinyl Palmitate was due to released reports about the ingredient being correlated to sun damage and skin tumors.
While there is a study showing this ingredient to cause DNA damage when exposed to UV-A, there is no concrete proof of it being linked to skin cancer. It is safe to use when used correctly.
All retinoids increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun in the first few months of usage. Be especially careful with reapplying sunscreen when using any form of retinoid.
Currently, this ingredient is still allowed in cosmetics all over the world. In Canada, cosmetics must have a warning label stating the product to contain Retinyl Palmitate
Fun fact: This ingredient is often added to low-fat milk to increase the levels of Vitamin A.
Learn more about Retinyl PalmitateTocopheryl 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water