What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Glyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingN-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
AstringentSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
CleansingMentha Piperita Extract
CleansingPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentCucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract
AstringentImpatiens Balsamina Flower Extract
AstringentVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isoamyl Laurate, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sorbitan Olivate, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tocopherol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Mentha Piperita Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Impatiens Balsamina Flower Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCoconut Alkanes
EmollientHydrated Silica
AbrasiveTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Pullulan
Silica
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coconut Alkanes, Hydrated Silica, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Pullulan, Silica, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tocopherol 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