What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-20 Stearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Cocoate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Ricinoleate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDendrobium Nobile Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Asparagus Cochinchinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Citrus Aurantium Tachibana Peel Extract
HumectantArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Ophiopogon Japonicus Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSaururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPogostemon Cablin Leaf/Stem Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-20 Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Retinol, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Cocoate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Ricinoleate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Parfum, Lactobacillus Ferment, Saccharomyces Ferment, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Dendrobium Nobile Stem Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Asparagus Cochinchinensis Root Extract, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Tachibana Peel Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Seed Extract, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Saururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, CI 19140, Tocopherol
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 GlycerinRetinol 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 Water
