What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Cleansing
Mentha 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 Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, 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 ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearate
CleansingXylitol
Humectant
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Oleth-20
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Dicapryl Succinate
Emollient
Menthone Glycerin Acetal
Refreshing
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Stearate, Xylitol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Oleth-20, Glycerin, Caffeine, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium PCA, Dicapryl Succinate, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Menthyl Lactate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lactate, Tin Oxide, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77891, CI 42090, CI 19140
Reviews
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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPyrus Malus Fruit Extract is extract from Apples. Apples are rich in Vitamin C, sugars, and antioxidants.
The sugar in Apples are humectants and help hydrate the skin. On top of that, apples also contain some acids, such as malic acid. These acids may have a mild exfoliating effect.
Last, the phytochemicals found in apples are strong antioxidants. These antioxidants help with anti-aging as they protect your skin cells against oxidative damage.
Learn more about Pyrus Malus Fruit ExtractTocopherol 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
