What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Diglycerin
Humectant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract
Abrasive
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Diglycerin, Glycine Soja Oil, Mandelic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Stearic Acid, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sclerotium Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Salicylic Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Myristic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Opuntia Tuna Flower/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Aristotelia Chilensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Gamma-Undecalactone
Perfuming
Gamma-Decalactone
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, Betaine, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Opuntia Tuna Flower/Stem Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Aristotelia Chilensis Fruit Extract, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Laurate, Squalane, Carbomer, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Riboflavin, Triethyl Citrate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Gamma-Undecalactone, Gamma-Decalactone, Tocopherol, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
