What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientSteareth-21
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientJojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin ConditioningSqualene
EmollientPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantRetinol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Ascorbate
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Stearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTribehenin
EmollientCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Steareth-21, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Squalene, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Retinol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Ascorbate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Polysorbate 60, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Stearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tribehenin, Ceramide Ng, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Caramel
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycine Soja Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Retinol, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Ceramide NP, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
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 mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
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 RetinolTocopherol (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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water