What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Humulus Lupulus Extract
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Retinol, Bakuchiol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ethyl Ferulate, Humulus Lupulus Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Gluconate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Lactate
BufferingCellulose
Absorbent
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Fructooligosaccharides, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Retinol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Retinal, Tocopherol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Allantoin, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Lactate, Cellulose, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hexylene Glycol, Propanediol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolRetinol 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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
