What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Methylpropanediol
SolventC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Alteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Cetearyl Olivate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Methylpropanediol, C14-22 Alcohols, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Carbomer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Retinol, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Tromethamine, Polyglutamic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Madecassoside, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glucose, Asiaticoside, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Collagen
Moisturising
Trehalose
Humectant
Avena Sativa Bran
Abrasive
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ascorbic Acid, Retinol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Arbutin, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Collagen, Trehalose, Avena Sativa Bran, Beta-Glucan, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Ceramide EOP, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate
Alternatives
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 GlycerinRetinol 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 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 Tocopherol
