What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlyceryl Isostearate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantRetinol
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Glycine Soja Oil, Isononyl Isononanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Propylene Glycol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glyceryl Isostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Ceramide AP
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBakuchiol
AntimicrobialLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Amorphophallus Konjac Root
HumectantRetinol
Skin ConditioningCellulose Acetate Butyrate
Tricaprylin
PerfumingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Roseum Leaf Oil
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Sprout
HumectantOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantMelia Azadirachta Leaf
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Water, Squalane, Glycerin, Bakuchiol, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Amorphophallus Konjac Root, Retinol, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Tricaprylin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Water, Pelargonium Roseum Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Sprout, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Phospholipids, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Pantothenic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamateRetinol 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 HyaluronateWater. 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