What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polysilicone-11
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientMannitol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
BHT
Antioxidant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trehalose, Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycine Soja Oil, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polysilicone-11, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Parfum, Sodium Sulfite, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Tromethamine, Retinol, Allantoin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Mannitol, Glyceryl Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, BHT, Beta-Carotene, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Ascorbic Acid, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glutathione, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientCholesterol
Emollient
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Cholesterol, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglutamic Acid, Ceramide NP, Retinal, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinSodium 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 HyaluronateStearic 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 AcidTocopherol 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
