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
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Collagen
Moisturising
Trehalose
Humectant
Avena Sativa Bran
Abrasive
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ascorbic Acid, Retinol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Arbutin, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Collagen, Trehalose, Avena Sativa Bran, Beta-Glucan, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Ceramide EOP, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterGlycerin (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 GlycerinRetinol 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
