What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningSalvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Isohexadecane, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Saccharide Isomerate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lecithin, Sodium Hydroxide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmylopectin
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Malachite Extract
Antioxidant
Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Sphingolipids, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Amylopectin, Phospholipids, Carbomer, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Sodium Benzoate, Malachite Extract, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Sodium Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Isostearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Dimethicone, CI 42090, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 PalmitateButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPentylene 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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol 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 WaterXanthan 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
