What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDibutyl Adipate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dibutyl Adipate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Disodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate, Silica, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Behenyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Sucrose Distearate, Citric Acid, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Poly(C6-12 Olefin)
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Diglycerin
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Octadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-12 Olefin), Pentylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Tranexamic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Octadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Stearyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlyceryl 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 StearatePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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
