What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSalicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Mannose
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningAcetic Acid
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Propanediol, Cetyl Esters, Jojoba Esters, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Behenyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Ceramide NP, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Adenosine, Mannose, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lactic Acid, Lactobacillus, Acetic Acid, Maltodextrin, Faex Extract, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol, Parfum
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Avena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Arnica Cordifolia Flower Extract
Borago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingVaccinium Uliginosum Berry Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Davidiana Extract
Antioxidant
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgin
Masking
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialJasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Eugenol
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Water, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Arnica Cordifolia Flower Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Uliginosum Berry Extract, Prunus Davidiana Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Algin, Sclerotium Gum, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Citric Acid, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Eugenol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is a stable form of Vitamin C. It is created by combining glucose from starch.
When applied to skin, Ascorbyl Glucoside turns into Ascorbic Acid.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may damage skin cells.
It can help to reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, and brighten skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Ascorbyl GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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
