What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbitol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Hydrolyzed Candida Saitoana Extract
Skin ProtectingHydroxystearyl Glucoside
Salvia Officinalis Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydroxystearyl Alcohol
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Phytate, Hydrolyzed Candida Saitoana Extract, Hydroxystearyl Glucoside, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Hydroxystearyl Alcohol, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Human Neonatal Fibroblast Conditioned Media
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingSqualane
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Isoceteth-20
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Human Neonatal Fibroblast Conditioned Media, Dimethicone, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycerin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Squalane, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Isoceteth-20, Butylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Potassium Sorbate
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 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.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
