What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantSalvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientSafflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Isohexadecane, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Phospholipids, Stearic Acid, Glycine Soja Sterols, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Squalane, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningCandelilla Cera
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingTribehenin
EmollientPEG-60 Almond Glycerides
EmulsifyingAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasiveWater
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLecithin
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Candelilla Cera, Silica, Sorbitan Stearate, Tribehenin, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Water, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Reviews
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
Ascorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited.
Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateThis ingredient is also known as sweet almond oil. It is a lightweight, cold-pressed oil from the ripe seeds of the sweet almond tree.
Sweet almond oil is rich in skin-nourishing fatty acids such as oleic acid (55-86%) and linolenic acid (7-35%).
As an emollient, it softens and hydrates skin by forming a thin barrier that locks in moisture.
Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing. The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the available safety data and concluded it is safe for topical use.
Because of the oleic acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis OilTocopherol 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