What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Potassium Chloride
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Glucomannan, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Potassium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Retinyl Palmitate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tin Oxide, Tocopherol, Ceteareth-20, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Ceramide NP, Polysorbate 20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77499, CI 77510
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-75
HumectantPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-75, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycerinPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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 Water
