What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glucosamine Hcl
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Pullulan
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Squalane, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Polysorbate 60, Propanediol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Diheptyl Succinate, Phenoxyethanol, Glucosamine Hcl, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pullulan, Allantoin, Lysolecithin, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Silica, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Khaya Senegalensis Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Carum Petroselinum Seed Oil
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Khaya Senegalensis Bark Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Oligopeptide-1, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Xanthan Gum, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Carum Petroselinum Seed Oil, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
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 GlycerinSodium 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 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
