What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Globularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentRosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentTaraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Globularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Ferulic Acid, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAnethum Graveolens Herb Extract
Perfuming
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Tocopherol, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Lactic Acid, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl Caprylate, Anethum Graveolens Herb Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Retinol, Phospholipids, Xanthan Gum, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Phytate, Salicylic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, 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.
Ferulic Acid is a plant based antioxidant that can be naturally found in the cell walls of grains like rice, oats, and corn. It has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and has the ability to boost the performance of other antioxidants as well.
A well-known study found that adding Ferulic Acid to a solution of Vitamins C and E doubled the photoprotection of skin. This is why you'll often see it paired with Vitamin C or Vitamin E serums rather than sold on its own.
A 2025 review of 18 human studies found that using Ferulic Acid (0.5-1%) daily for one to three months showed improvements in:
As far as allergies go, Ferulic acid is generally well-tolerated but can cause an allergic reaction in very rare cases. It's also worth noting that Ferulic acid is often extracted from plant sources like rice bran or wheat bran, so be sure to path test if you have known grain allergies.
Outside of skincare, researchers are also looking into Ferulic Acid for its potential benefits in areas like diabetes, Alzheimer's, and heart health.
Learn more about Ferulic AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolThis is a botanical extract from the rosemary plant (the same one you cook with). In skincare, it mostly works as a skin conditioning agent.
Its activity comes from a handful of polyphenols, carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. Almost 90% of the antioxidant activity of this ingredient can be attributed to canosol and carnosic acid.
These compounds protect your skin two ways:
1) They fight off free radicals, or the unstable molecules from things like sun and pollution that age and damage skin.
2) They help calm inflammation by switching off the chemical signals that tell skin to get red and irritated.
Lab studies also suggest that rosmarinic acid may help protect collagen and slow sugar-related damage to it.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
Rosemary can occasionally cause allergic contact dermatitis (due to carnosol), so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractSodium 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 PhosphateSodium 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 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 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
