What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropylcocoate PEG-8 Dimethicone
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Isododecane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Stearalkonium Bentonite
Gel FormingPolyglyceryl-3 Oleate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Propylene Carbonate
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Hydroxypropylcocoate PEG-8 Dimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Isododecane, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cocos Nucifera Water, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Allantoin, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycine Soja Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Triethylhexanoin, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Silica, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Polyglycerin-3, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Squalane, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium 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 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
