What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Squalane
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Algin
Masking
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Ceramide NP, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactobionic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Carbomer, Arginine, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gluconolactone, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Algin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Adenosine
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenylpropanol
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Retinol 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 RetinolSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
