What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Limonene
Perfuming
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycereth-26
Humectant
C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
Masking
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Yeast Polysaccharides
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentSaponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingSuperoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Eugenol
Perfuming
Water, Isododecane, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Limonene, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycereth-26, C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Yeast Polysaccharides, Sodium Hydroxide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Superoxide Dismutase, Phenoxyethanol, Eugenol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Kaolin
Abrasive
Oryza Sativa Powder
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Lauryl Lactyl Lactate
Skin ConditioningBentonite
Absorbent
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingIron Oxides
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract
MoisturisingEchinacea Purpurea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningEchinacea Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Potassium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Behenic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Lauric Acid, Kaolin, Oryza Sativa Powder, Stearic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Lauryl Lactyl Lactate, Bentonite, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Iron Oxides, Panthenol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateStearic 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 AcidTocopheryl 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 Water
