What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Neopentanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylamide
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Vp/Va Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingIsohexadecane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Linoleate
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Acrylamide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Vp/Va Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Triethanolamine, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Retinyl Linoleate, Adenosine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Xanthophylls
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Physalis Pubescens Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Glucosamine Hcl
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrideceth-6 Phosphate
EmulsifyingN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLaureth-23
Cleansing
Steareth-20
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate, Stearic Acid, Coconut Alkanes, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Retinol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Chrysin, Persea Gratissima Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Ceramide NP, Xanthophylls, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols, Jojoba Esters, Physalis Pubescens Fruit Juice, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Cetyl Palmitate, Trehalose, Lauric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glucosamine Hcl, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Pisum Sativum Extract, Tocopherol, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Hydroxide, Laureth-23, Steareth-20, Propanediol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Oil is a plant-derived oil from soybean seeds. Like other oils, it is rich in essential fatty acids (mostly linoleic and oleic) that support skin hydration and barrier function.
The fatty acids are able to integrate into the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum to help soften skin and reduce water loss.
On top of that, soybean oil is rich in vitamins like vitamin E, a potent antioxidant.
Research on soybean's active components also point to anti-inflammatory, collagen-stimulating, antioxidant activity, and protection against UV-induced oxidative damage.
Most of this research applies to the broader soybean plant and not just the oil fraction alone.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to the oleic acid content.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Retinol 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 RetinolWater. 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
