What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientC12-18 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientSqualene
EmollientPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPyrus Cydonia Seed Extract
MaskingSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventInositol
HumectantOryzanol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide
AbsorbentHoney Extract
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, C12-18 Acid Triglyceride, Jojoba Esters, Squalene, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Propanediol, Inositol, Oryzanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide, Honey Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningPEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningDextrin Palmitate/Ethylhexanoate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientMoringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantMethylparaben
PreservativeAscorbyl Dipalmitate
AntioxidantEthylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Water, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Caprylyl Methicone, Dextrin Palmitate/Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, BHT, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopherol, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Methylparaben, Ascorbyl Dipalmitate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Methylparaben is a synthetic preservative and one of the most widely used in the world. It has a simple, but important job: prevent your products from going bad by stopping bacteria, yeast, and mold from growing.
Typical use levels are low, often 0.1-0.3%.
This is also one of the most heavily studied preservatives out there and major regulatory bodies have repeatedly given it the green light.
In 2023, the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) confirmed that this ingredient is safe up to 0.4% on its own, of up to 0.8% when mixed with other paraben esters.
Here's the science behind the noise behind parabens/hormones as well:
Methylparaben shows very weak estrogen-like activity in vitro tests (more than 1,000x weaker than your body's own estradiol). In vivo (live-organism) studies don't support a meaningful endocrine-disrupting effect either.
You get a stronger estrogenic effect from eating tofu, actually.
It's also a low sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon; they usually happen on damage or broken skin.
There is a caveat: France has proposed to formally re-examine its endocrine classification in 2025 so the regulatory conversation isn't fully closed as of yet.
But as it stands today, this ingredient is considered safe at permitted levels.
Learn more about MethylparabenTocopherol 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