What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-51
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Propanediol
Solvent
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingSqualane
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dimethicone, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglutamic Acid, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lactic Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Oligopeptide-51, Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide, Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1, Panthenol, PEG-100 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Water, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Acrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Papain
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Bidens Pilosa Extract
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAlgin
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Caprylyl Methicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Acrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Tranexamic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Papain, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide, Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Bisulfite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Polyisobutene, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Algin, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Pentylene Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateThis ingredient is a combination of two AHAs, lactic acid and glycolic acid. It has exfoliating properties
Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide is a peptide.
Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1 is a peptide.
Peg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
We don't have a description for Polyvinyl Alcohol yet.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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
