What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientSodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Synthetic Sapphire
Dimethicone
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Soluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningActinidia Polygama Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Glyceryl Dibehenate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tribehenin
Emollient
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
PEG-75 Stearate
Ceteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, C12-16 Alcohols, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopentyldiol, Synthetic Sapphire, Dimethicone, Palmitic Acid, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Bakuchiol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Tocopheryl Acetate, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Tocopherol, Soluble Proteoglycan, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Silica, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Carbomer, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Tribehenin, Glyceryl Behenate, PEG-75 Stearate, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Keiskei Extract
Antioxidant
Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Glucose
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Squalane, Behenyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Angelica Keiskei Extract, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Caffeine, Bakuchiol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Arachidyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Phytate, Glucose, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, commonly known as Argireline or Acetyl Hexapeptide-3, is a popular peptide in skincare. Itās often referred to as a āBotox-likeā ingredient because it helps reduce muscle movement.
By relaxing these micro-movements, Argireline may help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. That said, itās not as powerful as Botox, and research on its long-term effectiveness is still limited.
Beyond smoothing, Argireline may also support collagen production. Collagen is the protein that helps keep your skin firm, bouncy, and well-hydrated by strengthening the skin barrier.
So while Argireline isnāt a miracle fix, it can be a helpful addition to a routine focused on both prevention and skin health.
Read more about other common types of peptides here:
Learn more about Acetyl Hexapeptide-8Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. It has antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning, and antioxidant properties.
You'll likely see it called a "retinol replacement" but the two are technically not related. This is because bakuchiol is able to flip many of the same switches in your skin cells to tell them to:
1) produce more collagen (type I, III, and IV)
2) activate the same genes retinoids do
Unlike retinoids, this ingredient will not increase photosensitivity and is safe to use during pregnancy (but please still check in with your doctor!).
The flagship clinical trial from Dhaliwal et al. 2019 found 0.5% bakuchiol (twice daily) and 0.5% retinol (once daily) reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation equally, but bakuchiol had significantly less irritation.
Systematic reviews also back this up:
Bakuchiol is comparable to retinol for photoaging but with better tolerability. It also has mild antibacterial properties against Cutibacterium acnes and antifungal activity in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes.
The reason bakuchiol works well is due to its structure; it is a meroterpene phenol, or a hybrid molecule. The phenol half acts as an antioxidant while the terpene half is fat-loving. This helps the molecule slip through the skin barrier.
This ingredient is usually used between 0.5-2%. Only one case of contact dermatitis has ever been reported for this ingredient.
Learn more about BakuchiolButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycerinTocopherol 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 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
