What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hesperidin
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Geranium Maculatum Extract
TonicSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dicaprylyl Ether, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Hesperidin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Propanediol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Polyacrylamide
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Ethylhexyl Cocoate
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Squalane, Sodium PCA, Triethanolamine, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Glycerin, Polyacrylamide, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Retinol, Propanediol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Niacinamide, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tartaric Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Dimethicone, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Malic Acid, Cetyl Esters, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Glycine Soja Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Oil is a plant-derived oil from soybean seeds. Like other oils, it is rich in essential fatty acids (mostly linoleic and oleic) that support skin hydration and barrier function.
The fatty acids are able to integrate into the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum to help soften skin and reduce water loss.
On top of that, soybean oil is rich in vitamins like vitamin E, a potent antioxidant.
Research on soybean's active components also point to anti-inflammatory, collagen-stimulating, antioxidant activity, and protection against UV-induced oxidative damage.
Most of this research applies to the broader soybean plant and not just the oil fraction alone.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to the oleic acid content.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolRetinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolTocopherol 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
