This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Persea Gratissima Oil and Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten dull-looking skin and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
C13-16 Isoalkane
SolventC10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Collagen
Moisturising
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Persea Gratissima Oil, C13-16 Isoalkane, C10-18 Triglycerides, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Behenate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Collagen, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Phytosphingosine, Behenic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Jojoba Esters, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Triethyl Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Levulinate, Parfum
Abn Complex
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Colloidal Silver
AntimicrobialGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentPelargonium Graveolens Extract
Masking
Taraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin 1%
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol 1%
Preservative
Abn Complex, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dimethyl Sulfone, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Parfum, Glyceryl Stearate, Colloidal Silver, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Maris Sal, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin 1%, Phenoxyethanol 1%
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 StearateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilXanthan 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
