What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Cleansing
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Cetearyl Alcohol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium PCA, Sorbic Acid, C10-18 Triglycerides, Xanthan Gum, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Resveratrol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Citric Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ubiquinone, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Juice
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera
MaskingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentEchinacea Purpurea Root Extract
MoisturisingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Heptyl Glucoside
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Zea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Undecane
EmollientTridecane
Perfuming
Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Ribose
HumectantLactic Acid
Buffering
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningMangostin
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Water
Masking
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsopentyldiol
Humectant
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Citrus Limon Peel
MaskingMalpighia Glabra Fruit
Skin ConditioningEmblica Officinalis Fruit
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Oil
Emollient
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Tapioca Starch
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Pyrus Malus Juice, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Juice, Vitis Vinifera, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Juice, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Heptyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Water, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Undecane, Tridecane, Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Callus Culture Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ribose, Lactic Acid, Stearic Acid, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Mangostin, Prunus Persica Fruit Water, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Xanthan Gum, Isopentyldiol, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Peel, Malpighia Glabra Fruit, Emblica Officinalis Fruit, Adansonia Digitata Oil, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Cocos Nucifera Water, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Tapioca Starch, Thioctic Acid, Ubiquinone
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl 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 AlcoholThis extract comes from the Cabbage Palm, AKA the Açaà berry! It has skin soothing and antioxidant properties.
Acai berries are rich in antioxidants, including ferulic acid (The famous vitamin C stabilizer). Antioxidants protect your skin against damaging free-radical molecules.
You can also find carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, minerals, vitamin A, and Vitamin C in these berries.
Learn more about Euterpe Oleracea Fruit ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateTocopherol 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 TocopherolUbiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) is a molecule already found in our bodies. It is a potent antioxidant and skin-soothing ingredient.
Aging and environmental exposure diminishes our skin's natural ubiquinone levels. This is much like our natural collagen and elastin.
The good news is: studies show applying this ingredient topically replenishes ubiquinone levels in our skin. This also comes with a ton of skin benefits. These benefits include:
Ubiquinone is considered a large molecule and cannot be absorbed into the lower layers of skin. This is why it is believed to be such an effective antioxidant: it protects our skin in the upper layers and prevents damage in the deeper layers.
When used in sunscreen, ubiquinone is shown to increase ingredient stability, increase SPF factor, and add to infrared protection.
Fun fact: ubiquinone is fat-soluble.
Learn more about UbiquinoneWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
