What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Olea Europaea Husk Oil
Skin Conditioning
PEG-20
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Tristearate
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingPelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Olea Europaea Husk Oil, PEG-20, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Retinyl Palmitate, Sucrose Tristearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Triethanolamine, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Retinol, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 60
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Cichorium Intybus Root Oligosaccharides
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Lactate
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Phragmites Karka Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Alteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Algin
Masking
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingCeteareth-25
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Disodium EDTA
Water, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Fructooligosaccharides, Cichorium Intybus Root Oligosaccharides, Bakuchiol, Ubiquinone, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Caprylyl Glycol, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Potassium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Phragmites Karka Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Magnesium Chloride, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 80, Retinol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Trehalose, Urea, Serine, Algin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Ceteareth-25, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Disodium EDTA
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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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 RetinolWater. 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
