What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Dodecane
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Retinoyl Hyaluronate
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Dodecane, Panthenol, Retinal, Sodium Retinoyl Hyaluronate, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Lactobacillus, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Maltodextrin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Grifola Frondosa Fruiting Body Extract
EmollientRubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientGanoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Butyrospermum Parkii Oil
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Benzyl Glycol
SolventRaspberry Ketone
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Triethylhexanoin, Niacinamide, Squalane, Cyclodextrin, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Grifola Frondosa Fruiting Body Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Arginine, Retinal, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Ceramide EOP, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Diheptyl Succinate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phytosterols, Propanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Raspberry Ketone
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinRetinal is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the gold-standard class of anti-aging ingredients.
Retinal has many benefits as other retinoids: improve skin texture, reduce large pores, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, heal scars, and fight acne.
Studies show retinal may work at a faster rate than retinol due to its structure.
All retinoids have to be converted into retinoic acid before starting to work. Some retinoids take several steps of conversion before binding. Retinal is only one step away, making it more potent.
Like other retinoids, retinal may be irritating. It is best to ease into using this ingredient frequently.
Using the 'ramp up' method, start by using retinol once a week. This gives your skin time to adjust and decrease irritation. Once you feel ready, you can slowly increase the frequency of retinol use.
Using retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few weeks of use. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
Learn more about RetinalTocopherol 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
