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 ConditioningGlyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Squalane
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Culture Conditioned Media
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf
Perfuming
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, C13-15 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bakuchiol, Squalane, Retinol, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Panax Ginseng Root Culture Conditioned Media, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Polyglutamic Acid, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sclerotium Gum, Parfum, Propanediol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol
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 GlycerinLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil is from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant. It is a skin conditioning agent and emollient that sits on top of skin to soften and hydrate it.
Over 98% of the oil is made up of long-chain fatty acids, mostly aachidic acid (61%), docosenoic acid (~16%), and docosadienoic acid (~18%).
This combination is not really found in any other plant oil and is the reason this is one of the most stable botanical oils available.
Some studies show it to be more stable than jojoba oil, helps a product resist going rancid, and can help extend the shelf life of a formula.
It also naturally contains vitamin E and phytosterols that give it a mild antioxidant benefit.
This ingredient is typically used from around 1% to fairly high levels since it's gentle; it's well-tolerated and low on the irritation scale.
Learn more about Limnanthes Alba Seed OilPentylene 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 GlycolPhenethyl Alcohol is a colorless and aromatic alohol. It is naturally occuring in essential oils.
The scent of this ingredient is floral and often compared to rose.
Like other alcohols, this ingredient helps prevent the growth of bacteria. However, its main purpose is to impact a fragrance.
Learn more about Phenethyl AlcoholPropanediol 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 RetinolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
